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

[jimmiej]

Originally posted by AZKathy
Anyhoo, we paid a lot for him to do Band Camp this summer which was a week of 12 hour days. He complained and complained about getting up so early, etc. By the end of the week, he was pooped, but enthusiastic about the experience and the friends he has made during this time. He now is excited to do Marching Band and found something he is interested in other that playing computer games!

I've seen this happen time & time again. Kids express apprehension about marching band or band in general & after trying it, they love it! In our school, band is more popular than sports!

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by auntpolly
I agree that it's going to have to be "band" or "no band", but I would just like to say that I think this is a classic example of how high schools make a big mistake. By not being flexible and giving kids lots of options of ways to experience school they just ending up turning kids off and alienating kids that might have ended up having a beneficial experience.

So go to a school that doesn't have marching band. Not all high schools have marching band. The one right by my house where I substitute has concert and jazz band only. No football team and no marching band. My older daughter's high was the same. No football team and no marching band. It was the fine arts magnet high school.

At other high schools marching band is a commitment that you do if you paly in any of the other bands. Plain and simple. My younger daughter had this situation. Even the orchestra kids played in marching band. If they played strings they ended up playing percussion instruments for marching band.

Only other option. is to not do any band at all.

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
At other high schools marching band is a commitment that you do if you paly in any of the other bands. Plain and simple. My younger daughter had this situation. Even the orchestra kids played in marching band. If they played strings they ended up playing percussion instruments for marching band.

Can I ask what purpose it serves to have a violinist play the tambourine (for example) in a marching band? Serious question...I have absolutely no idea what this achieves.

 

[Coach Rick]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
Can I ask what purpose it serves to have a violinist play the tambourine (for example) in a marching band? Serious question...I have absolutely no idea what this achieves.

Percusion is way more than banging a tambourine. Most percussion sections today include an array of vibe's, bells, and such. Being a well rounded musician is a good thing. If that student decides to go on to college for music later, they will be proficient at more than one instrument, a thing most "good" college's look fondly on. And if that student decides later to be a music teacher, you must be proficient in 8 instruments to attain a degree in music ed. That is at most schools anyway. Outside of that, it doesn't hurt one bit to play more than one instrument. You never know what opportunities await. Hope that answered your question.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

When I was in band we had to do both Marching and Concert. I enjoyed both for many different reasons, and I acquired different skills from both of them.

I don't remember that many after school practices (maybe before competitions), but we practiced every day during school. Oh the one fall it was horrible when I had swimming and then band right after, my hair would freeze sometimes (I lived in Pennsylvania at that time), but I survived.

The choice is band or no band. I would not go seeking special permission.

 

[Pinnie]

I am going to totally agree with what Coach Rick said, Both my boys marched in high school and it was, according to them, the BEST experience of their high school careers. Both agreed that it taught them time management skills as well as how to work as a total team.

They had a few friends that went on to march Drum and Bugle Corps in Division 1. DS has a dorm mate that marches this year with the Cavs.

We are leaving on Wednesday for Colorado for the Drum Corp Finals at Mile High Stadium. These kids are amazing in their commitment to marching! They spend the summer marching and touring the country! Check them out: www.dci.org

Coach Rick...my money is on the Blue Devils this year for world champs. What their pit does is amazing. You would swear a train is pulling into the station!!!!

pinnie

 

[wdwfam]

My DD16 just left for her first day of regular band camp. Since she is a section leader, she was required to go on a retreat last week for 3 days. When in high school, you HAVE to make decisions on what is important. She has participated in all types of sports, but realized in high school, you have to make narrow it down to what is right for you. It's no longer "try to cram as many different activities as you can". Band is a commitment to the program - and it requires a lot of extra practices. I find it hard to believe that you thought she could simply be a part of an ensemble, concert band, whatever and by-pass the marching part. Since this was the reason she chose this school, you surely did a little research about the program. Most people here who have been in band or their children in a band program know that the kids have little time for other extra curricular activities. But, overall, the kids love/and or have very fond memories of their time in band. Our school is going to Hawaii next June to march in the King Kamamaha parade. There is a LOT of fun involved with being part of the group - BAND.

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
Can I ask what purpose it serves to have a violinist play the tambourine (for example) in a marching band? Serious question...I have absolutely no idea what this achieves.

Me either! Particularly if they don't want to do it. If they just aren't that kind of kid. Not all kids that are musical want to put on a uniform and march around at football games

 

[septbride2002]

It's a good thing she isn't going to my high school or you would really have problems! My high school Marching Band Camp starts today. From 8a.m. to 3pm the students start learning to march 5 days a week until school starts. In my band yes Marching band was a requirement for concert band. I personally enjoyed marching band a lot more then concert. Yes band conflicted with a lot of my scheduling so for 4 years of high school I had to take an extra hour of classes in the morning to make up the scheduling conflict. I had enough credit by my Junior Year to be considered a Senior! But I really really enjoyed band so the decision was easy for me.

Your daughter is going to have to make a choice as to what is more important. I for one would not take back a single second of my band years. The good friends I have today are the ones I made in Band. We were a family.

~Amanda

 

[septbride2002]

Me either! Particularly if they don't want to do it. If they just aren't that kind of kid. Not all kids that are musical want to put on a uniform and march around at football games

Then they shouldn't do band. They can do private lessons at home to learn one particular instrument.

~Amanda

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by AZKathy
By the end of the week, he was pooped, but enthusiastic about the experience and the friends he has made during this time. He now is excited to do Marching Band and found something he is interested in other that playing computer games!

This is another reason that band is a good idea. Because the new freshmen spend so much time around upper classmen at the beginning of the school year, they have a much better time adjusting to high school than kids who aren't part of such a cohesive group.

 

[Coach Rick]

Originally posted by auntpolly
Me either! Particularly if they don't want to do it. If they just aren't that kind of kid. Not all kids that are musical want to put on a uniform and march around at football games

Simple solution: DON'T DO IT!! Nobody is twisting any arms to join band. If that "kid" doesn't want to march, but wants to still persue music, there are many community type organizations around to participate in. Might I note many marching bands don't just "march around at football games". In our part of the country they compete!! Sounds like life lessons to me. Learn how to work together with a group, be the best you can be to win, learn how to win and loose with grace and dignity. I can't see your point, but then again marching has been a huge part of my life since the day I was born. My dad marched since he was 10, and at 69 still carries a drum around with him. Now in The Saint Kevin Emerald Knights from Dorchester/Boston there are 3 generations "Rick's" marching together on the same field. My dad with his drum, me as drum major, and my son as a percusionist, so maybe I don't understand the other side of this.

Pinnie: I once again envy you. I still remember marching into Mile High back in 1978 for the DCI Nationals with the North Star to the standing ovation of 32,000 "marching" Drum Corps fans...I still get chills thinking of it today. It was also a location I placed 3rd in individual Mellophone competition. At age 20 it was quite a thrill to be third in the world in anything. Enjoy Denver, IMO the best place DCI ever had a National Championship. Oh btw, 78 North Star placed 10 in the world...quite a thrill there also...maybe that's why I feel that way for Denver DCI.

 

[Madi100]

Originally posted by auntpolly
Me either! Particularly if they don't want to do it. If they just aren't that kind of kid. Not all kids that are musical want to put on a uniform and march around at football games

Oh, I LOVE that attitude. I'm going to go to work today and tell my boss that I really don't LIKE doing the reports that I have to do at the end of every week. I LOVE my job. It's the greatest job in the world. However, I just don't think that I should have to be the one to do these reports. I have so many other responsibilites in my job that I think they should find someone who is not as important as me to do this task.

You either go out for band (or whatever you decide to get involved with), and you do it 100%. If you can't do that, then don't get involved with it.

Maybe I'm going off base here, but don't you suppose what we expect out of our children when they are younger decides what type of person they will be when they are older. My husband works with a lot of high schoolers. I'm amazed at the amount of kids who will call in "sick" to work because they feel they have something more important to do it. A lot of PARENTS are the ones calling in for them. I wonder if those are the kids that also got out of marching band

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What a great thread!!!! I have only 1 more year and then I will become a "Band Parent". Thank You for sharing your stories!!!

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Madi100
Oh, I LOVE that attitude. I'm going to go to work today and tell my boss that I really don't LIKE doing the reports that I have to do at the end of every week. I LOVE my job. It's the greatest job in the world. However, I just don't think that I should have to be the one to do these reports. I have so many other responsibilites in my job that I think they should find someone who is not as important as me to do this task.

You either go out for band (or whatever you decide to get involved with), and you do it 100%. If you can't do that, then don't get involved with it.

Maybe I'm going off base here, but don't you suppose what we expect out of our children when they are younger decides what type of person they will be when they are older. My husband works with a lot of high schoolers. I'm amazed at the amount of kids who will call in "sick" to work because they feel they have something more important to do it. A lot of PARENTS are the ones calling in for them. I wonder if those are the kids that also got out of marching band

Boy is this not fair! Because you want to play an instrument in an orchestra or stage band you're lazy or something because you don't want to do marching band? I really don't think you're taking different personalities into account. And I'll bet most of these kids do exactly what you all are saying -- they just don't do band.

What you are saying is "Be like us or don't do music in school at all - this is how kids get disenfranchized and we lose some of them. I was in the marching band (didn't love it - but there weren't many options for girls in those days) -- my DH would have literally quit school before someone made him do it. Call him a quitter or whatever if you like, but he was just different, that's all. And there wasn't a place for him in the main stream. (I won't roll eyes at you! )

 

[auntpolly]

sorry double post

 

[septbride2002]

I don't know how other schools worked but for us the Marching Season went until mid November. We worked on Marching music and training until that time. Only when Marching was over did we head into the classroom to do Concert band. If a student didn't want to do Marching Band but wanted to do Concert Band then what do you suggest they do for half a semester while everyone else is out on the marching field?

~Amanda

 

[Laura]

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?

No--those students have private instruction. I did for clarinet, and I was in no way a serious musician.

 

[Madi100]

I wasn't rolling my eyes at you, added the rolling eyes because the last statement was said with sarcasm. It is a choice to do band or not do band. I played the bass clarinet in high school. Ever try to march with one of those? Not the easiest. So, for marching band I decided to be part of the flag group. I would have NEVER tried out for this had I just had to be part of concert band and skipped marching band because I played an instrument you don't march with. I had to do something, though. I am not a front of the scene type person. If you play a wrong note in a band most people don't notice. If you turn your flag wrong EVERYONE notices. Sometimes when we have to do things we dont' want to it teaches us to be better people.

 

[septbride2002]

Laura you make a good point. I wasn't a serious muscian either however I had private instruction once a week, did Marching Band, Concert Band, and also in state wide competitions represented my schools in quartets and solo categories.

Band is just as serious as any sport team in high school. If you can't make a full commitment to it then don't do it.

~Amanda