Hi, I’m a high school junior. I have been involved in music since the fourth grade, and I have been pole vaulting for nearly a year now. I’ve decided that I would like to continue these activities beyond high school, but as ECs. I want to get a BS in aero engineering, but also play in a symphony band/orchestra on the side (I would like to play bassoon), in addition to being on the track team as a pole vaulter. Is this possible? I understand classes plus studying is 50+ hours a week, and ensemble rehearsals/track practices are probably 6-12 hours a week EACH. If so, would this leave time for social functions or possibly work (that sounds ridiculous, I know)?
Also if I were to do this, should I get an intermediate or a pro level instrument?
That’s a big time commitment. The sports commitment will be set by your coach, but usually 30 hours per week during the season, much less in the off season. Music is again set by the director, and how much time at certain times of the year will vary.
No, I don’t think you can do all three at most schools and probably not at the level you are thinking (music from a music department, full sports team participation). You might be able to pull it off at my daughter’s school, which is STEM and does have aero engineering. There is no music department, but there is an orchestra organized by faculty and students because a lot of STEM students enjoy music. The orchestra is quite good and there are quartets and other smaller groups too. (Bassoon? I don’t know). For the track team, I think you could work out any conflicts. The team mostly competes instate, so the travel is less than at other schools.
But overall, no, I don’t think you can do it.
What is your best height in pole vault? Most college teams aren’t a cakewalk to qualify for.
@twoinanddone Thanks for the feedback. I didn’t know sports would be that many hours. If I had to choose one, is there a reason I should choose one over the other? Not counting scholarships of course…
@Studious99 Well, it’s currently 11 feet (at an event), but I’ve already cleared 12 and I’m steadily improving. For D1 schools, I’ve heard scholarship level is 16 feet, and 14’9"-15’9" for D2 D3 schools. I still have two years to improve.
By the way, my number one school right now is GA tech.
This is going to vary widely based on university and sport. You’d have to investigate this with each school you’re considering. I recommend contacting the music department or the ensemble directors at each school and asking if they have student athletes in their ensembles and how that works with athletics.
At my university (a D1 school), it is completely possible, and I know several that are doing so. Most of our ensembles only meet 2-3 hours a week (and then you need to practice on your own). Band meets 2 hours monday night and then has 1 more hour sectional during the week (you get to pick which time), and I know several students in band that are on the track team.
I just looked up GA Tech (ensembles on the music department website) and it looks like their bands and orchestras only rehearse for about 3 hours a week as well.
What will be very challenging is that for the most part rehearsal time for orchestra and your sport may conflict and these would be difficult to coordinate. It is hard enough to coordinate theater rehearsal and chorus rehearsal if you do both voice and theater… and these are somewhat aligned with one another in related departments plus you are already looking at a demanding academic major.