Can School Force Daughter to be in Marching Band???(Longgg, sorry)

[poohandwendy]

...and this one time at band camp....

just kidding........

 

[Rock'n Robin]

This is one of those choices kids have to make as they get older. If she wants to do band she has to march. If she is a competitive swimmer and needs to practice every night then she will have to drop band.
I had a student last year that made the varsity golf team as a 10th grader. As a JV golfer the band director let him do both, but when he made varsity the band director told him he couldn't be in band if he was doing all of the golf tourneys, practices etc. He quit band.
I think the practice schedule you have outlined is mild compared to a lot of schools. Where I teach the kids start going every day from next Monday until school starts to practice. Some schools send the kids away to band camp (insert "American Pie" joke here) for a week. Our kids stay after until 5PM on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday with games on Friday nights.
If it is hard to get her back to school for band 3 nights a week, isn't it harder to get her to swimming 5 nights a week?
I say she has to choose, leave it up to her and let us know what you decide.
Robin M.

 

[PammyK]

Seems ridiculous to me. In my HS (way back when, lol) Marching Band was a completely extracurricular activity. The only exception were kids in the Jr. High who were accepted into the HS marching band. Then our instrumental class was last period and we would walk down to the HS for MB practice during the fall. If you wanted to be in the MB you auditioned just like you would for the fall drama or spring musical or the way you would try out for a sports team. Students who took instrumental music classes were in the Concert Band. We also had a Jazz ensemble and I believe that was based on auditions as well.

I prefer keeping MB as an extracurricular activity like football, baseball, volleyball or any other sport. That allows athletes to participate in the music programs and students who have other academic commitments to participate in the MB if they choose to to do so.

 

[MosMom]

When I was in high school, marching band was something we had to audition for. Perhaps it was because we were highly competitive? I don't know. You certainly weren't forced to be in it and we had many in concert band that were not involved in Marching Band. Those kids were always irritated because we often worked on marching band material during the season.

She may like Marching Band if she gives it a chance!

 

[CindyKansas]

Way back when I was in HS my 9th, 10th and 11th grade I was in both marching and concert band. Now when I was a senior I was in marching band in the Fall but when school started 2nd semester I was taking college classes so I opted out of concert band. We really had a lot of fun in marching band. We went to the Cherry Blossom festival in Washington DC & the Air Force Academy.

 

[Laura]

Well, it looks like your daughter will have to make a decision as to which activity she will do.

This is how it was done at my high school:

Band at was not an extra-curricular activity, it was a class. Marching season started in June, practicing for the Fourth of July parade. That was the only part that was optional. If you played a non-marchable instrument like the oboe or the bassoon, you didn't have to be in marching band. The orchestra students (strings) were separated into a different class and they never marched.

Band was always the first period of the day. When the school year started, we would be at school 45 minutes early every day to practice marching, extending first period by 45 minutes, basically. No after-school practices. We went to all the football games (home and away) on Friday nights and did a performance the week of homecoming after school.

Once football season was done, we just had to be at school at the usual start time for first period to rehearse for the concert season. When basketball started up, we would play at home basketball games (not all; we would split into mini-bands and rotate games). We also had a few concerts during the year. There were some students who didn't do the concert season, just marching season. Those were mostly the mediocre musicians.

It's like jimmiej said, we weren't allowed to join in the middle. One of my friends was an oboe player and didn't march, but she did do other things. She went to band camp with us, etc.

Band was very time-consuming. If an able-bodied flutist played only the concert season, the other band members at my high school would probably have wondered why she got out of marching. A lot of bonding took place during the marching season. I had many friends because of marching band. I really loved it.

 

[browneyes]

Our local hs went through something similiar to this. Instead of requiring the students in concert band to be in marching band, they required all marching band students to be in the JROTC program. Many parents were upset because they liked the regular uniforms instead of the military uniforms, etc. I believe the school board told them it wasn't mandatory for the kids to be in band at all, and if they wanted to be in band, they had to be in JROTC also. Some kids did opt to not do band because they felt they were being forced to do something, instead of being asked. JROTC needed more members, and that's the only way the school board could figure to up the numbers.

 

[sk!mom]

My DS19 was in band all through junior high and high school. In addition to regular classes, attendance at additional practice was manditory. They practiced at 7:00 am every morning from August through end of Nov. and then 3 days a week at 7:00 for the rest of the year. They also practised 3 nights a week from 6:00 to 8:00 from August until time change and then 5:00 until it was too dark until football season ended usually late Nov. They were an award winning band and DS had so many opportunities for travel to wonderful places (including WDW) with this group. It shaped who he is as a person.

Having said this, many kids quit because it was just too much. We, also, knew of the commitment in time to have backed out if he wasn't up to it.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[KarenC]

Our high school's band program requires band members to participate in marching band. Basically it's marching band in the fall, concert band in the spring. Both of my kids participated in band. While my daughter (who was also on the high school swim team) detested marching, she really made some lasting friends over the course of her four marching band seasons. The kids really get close over all that time they spend...in the end it's worth it.

 

[arminnie]

Sorry - but I am missing something here. What does studying music and wanting to be a serious musician have to do with "marching"? Does someone who aspires to perform in a symphony orchestra need to know how to strut and form boxes out on a football field?

I kind of associate those precision marching bands with military like manuevers not necessarily with good music.

Of course I went to Stanford University and their band is most definitely not a precision marching band - some very talented and extremely irreverent musicians. The Stanford band is very well known and is way, way, way more entertaining than the precision bands at schools like USC.

Sounds like this is just a way to conscript students into forced labor at one of those schools that cares more about football halftime shows than a student getting a strong education in music.

 

[Shutterbug]

For me as well, band was a class and being that it was a semester offered course if you took it in the fall you had to do marching band and concert band. Truth be told I LOVVVVED marching band way more than concert band.
In marching band depending on the home game schedule we were learning a new show week after week with new music and new formations. With concert band we spent months on the same music.

With marching band you had larger audiences..everyone that came to watch the game, our teams fans and their teams fans.
In concert band it was mostly band parents.

And then theres marching band camp we always went to a college far away from town. Even though at times it was like boot camp any chance to get away from the parents for a whole week is a plus Plus the things that happened at band camp...hehehehe

 

[peachgirl]

Plus the things that happened at band camp...hehehehe

Yeah, until you get caught and the director makes everyone involved write a letter to their parents telling them in great detail what they were caught doing....

The parents had to send a note back to the band director and include the note their kid wrote them to prove you actually gave it to your parents.

I've never begged to get out of something like I did that one!

 

[JimB.]

Whne I was in Band in HS, the Symphonic Band (which I was a member) was REQUIRED to march. We took auditions from the lower level band to fill out the marching program.

If you played a "concert" instrument (bassoon, oboe, Bass clarinet, Bari Sax, etc. ) you had to play a "marching" instrument. I was a bassoonist & marched with a clarinet (played it too! ).

My DD's band just got BACK from band camp................ (uh, ohhhh). The kids are required to march also. IMHO, it makes for a well rounded musical education. Some of those who don't want to march may end up being HS educators some day. The experience is valuable.

Just an aside, my DD is not in the band, but the field guard. They HAVE to participate in the field guard to be in the WinterGuard in the winter. The "indoor" guard season is considered the "real" season b y the girls, but them's the breaks. Do job "A", get to go on to "B". If you don't, you don't.

IMHO, it is a perfectly appropriate requirement.

 

[disneydentist]

Originally posted by mars315
We had been to a band concert at our districted HS in the Spring, and I still have a copy of the program which listed all the band offerings at the districted HS. It states in bold letters: Marching Band is Optional. I had no reason to think it would be any different at any other HS in our county.

You also had no reason to think that it was the same, you just assumed. We're all guilty of doing this from time to time with often less than desirable results.

I looked into it on the school website, and I finally found where it said that everyone who was in concert band HAD to be in marching band.

Then yes, they can "make" her do it since you signed her up for the course.

DD cannot make every practice, but the two nights that both my daughters can swim at the same time are Tues. and Friday. We have already paid our swim club fees for September-December. DD NEEDS this exercise, as she plays no other sports.

I certainly won't argue that exercise is good for kids, but are there other nights that she could go without her sister? It might not be convenient but it would still be good for her.

Football players are exempt from Marching Band, because they are busy doing something else (quite obviously). Well, my argument is #1. My DD is busy doing something else, and #2. How can a school REQUIRE that a student spend 7 and 1/2 hours plus commuting time after school in order to take a class (Concert Band) which is offered for credit? If she simply does not go to marching band she will get an "F" for that portion of her grade, and obviously she will not be able to get a very good grade overall.

1. Football is a school activity, your private swim club isn't. 2. Because you sigmed her up for the course.

But regardless, Can they legally say that in order to be in a regular course you MUST take part in an afterschool activity? What if the Algebra II teacher said everybody taking Algebra II has to stay after school 3 times a week to do math olympics.

Again, you agreed to this by signing her up. Unless music is a required course for graduation, you can't really compare it to algebra II.

We have appealed to the band teacher who said he "could" grant an exception if we showed him our daughter's schedule, which we did and then after 2 weeks he said "no" last night. My husband has spoken to the Principal, who is of little help. We have a county school system and it is not a county policy but rather a school "tradition."

I agree with the band director. As for policy vs tradition, that's an unnecessary arguement if you ask me. The website says that it's part of the course. Period.

Now, I have to add that my daughter's school doesn't offer band for a grade. It is purely extracurricular. They earn letters just like athletes but don't get grades or exemptions from PE. Students occasionally join in mid-year. All are expected to do both marching and concert bands, and do. Some grumble, but they do it. Otherwise they'd be left out of a lot that goes on between the kids who do. They do football games and parades throughout the year.

My advice, if she wants the music then you have to suck it up and do it. Otherwise, see if she can drop the course now. It's not fair to other kids for her to participate part-time due to personal reasons and still get the same credits that they do for full time.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I guess I also don't understand. You said that the main reason for choosing this school is their band program, but now your daughter is reluctant to participate in a main part of their band program?

Anyway, I have to agree with the others. The aren't "forcing" her to do Marching Band. They are just setting the requirements for an elective course and they have every right to do that.

I think she is just going to have to decide which activity she wants more, swimming or band. Not having time for everything you want to do is a major part of High School.

 

[Serena]

It's a simple choice. Band, or no band. It was made more than clear. Now it's up to you.

 

[Madi100]

Originally posted by arminnie
Sorry - but I am missing something here. What does studying music and wanting to be a serious musician have to do with "marching"? Does someone who aspires to perform in a symphony orchestra need to know how to strut and form boxes out on a football field?

I kind of associate those precision marching bands with military like manuevers not necessarily with good music.

Of course I went to Stanford University and their band is most definitely not a precision marching band - some very talented and extremely irreverent musicians. The Stanford band is very well known and is way, way, way more entertaining than the precision bands at schools like USC.

Sounds like this is just a way to conscript students into forced labor at one of those schools that cares more about football halftime shows than a student getting a strong education in music.

Well, in larger schools maybe there are enough people to go out for symphony and then different kids to be in marching band. In fact, even small schools do have jazz bands and symphony. But the main parts of the band are marching band and concert band. I don't know.

I guess I just don't understand the issue. It's not like it's American History where you are required to take it in order to graduate. Band is an option. You could ask the band which is more fun marching or concert and I bet it'd be split about half and half. To me, marching band was fun, but concert band was where I could feel the music. To a lot of people marching band is more fun. I just think it teaches your child something when you make them play by the rules and not treat them like they are any better than the rest of the "team".

 

[jimmiej]

I prefer keeping MB as an extracurricular activity like football, baseball, volleyball or any other sport. That allows athletes to participate in the music programs and students who have other academic commitments to participate in the MB if they choose to to do so.

How does this help the OP's problem? Band IS extra-curricular in Texas, just like sports. And just like sports, they practice during the day & after school. How are athletes going to participate if practices are at the same time? No one is required to be in band-it's a choice.

Sorry - but I am missing something here. What does studying music and wanting to be a serious musician have to do with "marching"? Does someone who aspires to perform in a symphony orchestra need to know how to strut and form boxes out on a football field?

Most kids involved don't care about being a serious musician. They're in band for the social aspect or because they like being a part of a big group at school. We have 300 kids in our HS band & only about 60 could be considered "serious" musicians; that is possibly wanting to continue after HS.

I kind of associate those precision marching bands with military like manuevers not necessarily with good music.

When's the last time you seen a good HS marching band? Aren't you from Texas? We have some phenomenal HS marching bands here. Try going to the state marching contest in early November in Austin some time. You'll be blown away at not only the marching but probably more so by the musicianship of these 14-18 yo's. They sound like orchestras on the field.

BTW, here in Texas, precision marching went out of style (except in east Texas) in the 70's. It's now called corp style marching, i.e. pictures & shapes on the field. I think most of the rest of the country is about the same.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Originally posted by arminnie
Sorry - but I am missing something here. What does studying music and wanting to be a serious musician have to do with "marching"? Does someone who aspires to perform in a symphony orchestra need to know how to strut and form boxes out on a football field?

I kind of associate those precision marching bands with military like manuevers not necessarily with good music.

Of course I went to Stanford University and their band is most definitely not a precision marching band - some very talented and extremely irreverent musicians. The Stanford band is very well known and is way, way, way more entertaining than the precision bands at schools like USC.

Sounds like this is just a way to conscript students into forced labor at one of those schools that cares more about football halftime shows than a student getting a strong education in music.

I agree. If there are not enough students to have a marching band then don't have one. Kind of a supply and demand kind of thing!

As far as the OP goes, it sounds as though you are out of luck, although I was wondering if there is a music option that is non school related. Perhaps private lessons, and working with a community orchestra. That kind of thing.

No one says a school has to supply all of the options.

 

[peachgirl]

We have some phenomenal HS marching bands here. Try going to the state marching contest in early November in Austin some time. You'll be blown away at not only the marching but probably more so by the musicianship of these 14-18 yo's. They sound like orchestras on the field.

You should be proud of Texas' reputation for some of the best HS bands in the country.

Keep in mind this is coming from a born and bred Oklahoman. Singing the praises of Texas isn't something I do often.

If there are not enough students to have a marching band then don't have one.

I think what some of us are trying to explain is that for many schools, they don't have the luxury of having separate bands. It's just as likely that there wouldn't be enough money/students for orchestra as it would be for the marching band. So, they have one band, one class, one director. Anyone who wants to be in one part of the band must participate in all aspects or not at all.


In my case, I'm not only the choir director for high school, but the music teacher for middle and elementary school as well. In addition to that, I'm the assistant band director. Some schools are doing all that they can to have a music program at all, the least the kids can do is participate fully and the parents should encourage it rather than trying to figure out a way to get them out of it.