<p>Would it look bad if I dropped band after sophomore year? There's a good chance (if I stay for another year) that I'll have a scheduling conflict with band and math, since the math class will be at a local university. As a freshman, I've already signed up for playing next year (and I kind of want to play next year too).
I don't think prioritizing band over academics is correct either. Advice?</p>
<p>No, it won’t look bad and other academic classes could look better</p>
<p>But then I keep thinking that if I’m going to quit, I should quit earlier. Like at the end of this year. </p>
<p>Do you actually enjoy band or no? If you don’t, them it’s better to quit.</p>
<p>I like some aspects of it, but not all of it. Marching band isn’t really fun, but it’s worse because of the time commitment. The concert “season” is fine and pretty fun.
I have mixed feelings about staying. I really don’t want to invest another year and then quit… But it’s not for sure that there’ll be a conflict.</p>
<p>I had this kind of dilemma, too. I had been doing band since 5th grade and after freshmen year, I was sick of band (due to the verbal abuse of my band teacher who was removed from my school). However, I didn’t want to quit because I already invested 5 years into band and was the first in my section…
But I realized I wanted to pursue other classes and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice those classes for band.</p>
<p>So just ask yourself if you think it is worth it to stay in band. If you truly enjoy it, I would suggest staying.</p>
<p>@perfectionist27 Are you and I the same person? I am also the first chair and have invested nearly 5 years into band. Although, my band teacher is nice, he is also very demanding.
What I think I’ll do is the following: If I make it into the top band, I’ll stay (I’ve heard the top band gets to do all the fun stuff). If I don’t, I’ll quit. Simple as that. This is a really poor way to go about making decisions (it’s like saying that I’ll quit if I don’t get put on varsity for a sport), but I think that’s how I’ll go about making my choice. Thanks for the insight!</p>
<p>My instructor may be willing to teach me the material needed for AP Music Theory, so I could continue musical interests after quitting. Also, I’ve already been offered a spot as the solo pianist in the Jazz Ensemble, not dependent on whether I stay in band or not. </p>
<p>So I just gave it another hour of thought.
- I’m not going to play in college
- I definitely don’t have the time for playing at the mandatory pep band games
- I don’t really enjoy it that much
- I probably won’t get into the top band next year
- Band camp will probably clash with annual vacation
- There’s a week long band trip next year that I don’t want to go on</p>
<p>The thing making me reconsider is that not only have I put in a lot of time, but I’ve also taken lessons and promised my director that I’ll continue. Sigh.</p>
<p>Promises are meant to be broken.</p>
<p>Exactly. (He’s a pretty awesome teacher though…)</p>
<p>Honestly, just do what you want. This decision won’t lead to future conflicts, and really won’t affect either you or him in the long run.</p>
<p>Haha, I definitely had a hard time deciding to quit band. I felt very bored with my band class, to be honest. I felt like we were more concerned about competitions than the actual music/having fun, so that was a major factor as to why I quit.</p>
<p>And if your teacher is willing to give you some lessons even if you quit, it’s a win-win! </p>
<p>I wrote one of my college essays about how I decided to leave band behind even though it was something I wanted to continue all throughout high school. I decided that I really tried to be happy in my band class, but it just wasn’t working out for me. Remember that there’s a difference between quitting and trying. It sounds like you’ve been trying for a long time. Just do what makes you happy; don’t worry about what other people think (at the end of the day, it’s YOUR life)</p>
<p>As a matter of fact, I have been trying for a very long time. Both trying to get good at my instrument (I was actually REALLY bad before this year, but I was determined to be 1st chair) and to enjoy band (in MS I always found band boring, but I started enjoying it more this year). Sigh. It is my life, and I shouldn’t waste it doing things that I don’t want to do anymore.
So I have to tell my band director, my <em>expensive</em> private teacher, my counselor, and my friends that I’m quitting after telling them that I’m staying. Should be fun…</p>
<p>I totally support your decision. Things change…I found out that I didn’t want to do band anymore and it was a waste of my time. Good luck!!</p>