I’m debating whether or not I want to join band in college, and just wanted a general overview of the band as a whole.
Like, is the director any good? How time consuming is it? Are the people in band shunned by the rest of the school? (this happened at a friend’s school last year so I now ask).
Don’t fudge the details either, if you think there’s anything I should be aware of go for it! The good and the bad, please dish it out.
Thanks!
Also if I audition and get in but then choose not to do it later on, is that okay or will I get crap for it?
The band is great. I did it my first two years of college but had to stop due to other academic commitments. It is quite time consuming, but it only takes place in the fall. There is one week of band camp, which takes place the week before everyone else moves you (bonus, you get to move in early and avoid all the hectic move-in day craziness), and throughout the rest of the fall semester practices are held MWF 4-6. It’s not hard to manage at all. The director is wonderful and she really cares about all the students in the marching band. I would definitely consider trying it out for at least one year and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it in the following years. However, as a freshman, it is great to come into college and have a family of 300 people before classes even start!
The director is awesome and funny. I’m not actually in the band but I have several close friends who are and they love it. It is a huge time commitment though. Band camp runs from 8AM-11PM for a week or two(my bestest friend is in the band) and after that practice is three times a week during season. Also the director has a really cute dog and there’s really cool favors at the band banquet(this year it was a hat!). You make a ton of cool friends, which at a big place like UD, can otherwise be hard. I’d do it if you have the time and energy to commit to it.
Okay I live in Delaware and there’s this guy from a big school that was pretty popular and smart and cute, and he was in their marching band. I know he had a pretty girlfriend that wasn’t involved in that (who went to UD also) … so I wouldn’t worry. I think people in college are a lot more accepting of you being involved in whatever you are interested in, and you won’t have trouble making nongeeky friends in and outside of the marching band.