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 Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:52 pm
I want to march in college, but I don't know how much time/money it'll take. If anyone here does/did march in college, could you give me some basic idea of what I'll have to commit to?
Also, does your college band march woodwinds (other than saxes) like flute/piccolo or clarinet, or not? I'm a flute/piccolo, and although I did learn trumpet for jazz band, I'm not very good. I doubt I'd make any auditions on the trumpet, although I'd be willing to march it.
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:33 am
It depends on the program. I know my university takes almost no time at all. (And no money, but the program doesn't have any of it's own either, so it's terrible.) Along with no effort. We have band camp one week before classes begin and practice every MWF during the week. We do every home game, but no away games. We march woodwinds, but we only have three, including our tenor sax.
I would advise looking at the webpage (If there is one) for the band of the univeristy you plan to attend. If there is no webpage, call for more information. Bigger schools tend to be more involved, but it's more fun that way. And they make it so that you can work it into you schedule, for the most part. I wish my band was more involved...
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:11 pm
Like the above poster said, it depends on the program.
My band is part of the athletic department at a Division 1-A school (so, I'm classified as an athlete in the biggest/most public division of sports). We're never really in want for money to travel. In fact, the only time we use a school bus is to drive to our stadium. Everywhere else we go is on a chartered coach bus. At most, I pay $20 as a security on my uniform. I get it back (or a season DVD) for returning my uniform on time and in good condition.
Regarding time: I have a 5 day overnight band camp the week before school starts, and then practice every day of the week except Wednesday. If we don't have a home game that week, Friday practice will be canceled too. Practice is from 6-8 PM, though depending on our show we may be out early or really late. However, football games WILL eat up your weekends. I have to be at the band room 4 hours prior to kick off, we leave about half an hour later. After that, I do some stuff for the football team and fans (playing fight songs for the team, the halftime show for that week for the fans). Then we march a parade and do the football game. All in all, it's 8+ hours. We go to one away game per year (my freshman year was Syracuse/Niagara Falls, this year was Louisville, next year is Notre Dame), plus bowl games.
My band marches woodwinds (I play clarinet), in fact, most major bands I've seen march them. I doubt you'll have a problem, especially if you play piccolo.
If you really want to do band, go for it. There's pre-meds, engineers, and pharmacy majors in my band and they all have the time. It's totally worth it biggrin
You can PM me if you want to ask anything else.
P.S. - what colleges are you looking at, if you don't mind me asking?
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:51 pm
FAMU has the best college band (showstyle)
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:03 pm
I'm still keeping my options open, but I was very depressed to learn that Michigan State, who has the great Lyman Briggs science program I'm looking at, doesn't march woodwinds (except saxes). But it looks like that might be the exception, not the rule. Thanks Melchiresa! But I've been quite lazy on my search for potencial colleges. XP
My mom's concerned that I won't have time to have a job and march, because she doesn't want to have to give me money for regular living, just for tutition. So I couldn't do a lot, but I really really want to be involved in a big band, a great band, because my high school band... well, I love it, but we're tiny, dirt-poor, and barely practice. Although my BD insists I'm a very good piccolo, the best we have, so I probably wouldn't have a problem marching that.
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:17 pm
Schizophrenic Spork I'm still keeping my options open, but I was very depressed to learn that Michigan State, who has the great Lyman Briggs science program I'm looking at, doesn't march woodwinds (except saxes). But it looks like that might be the exception, not the rule. Thanks Melchiresa! But I've been quite lazy on my search for potencial colleges. XP
My mom's concerned that I won't have time to have a job and march, because she doesn't want to have to give me money for regular living, just for tutition. So I couldn't do a lot, but I really really want to be involved in a big band, a great band, because my high school band... well, I love it, but we're tiny, dirt-poor, and barely practice. Although my BD insists I'm a very good piccolo, the best we have, so I probably wouldn't have a problem marching that. It's quite possible to balance a job and band. Colleges don't usually have you work full-time (at my uni work study is between 10 and 20 hours a week), and you may be able to negotiate time with your supervisors. Once you figure out where you want to go, check out their work-study hours and look for flexible hours. College isn't as restrictive as high school, in that it's pretty possible to balance multiple things at once since your whole day (most likely) isn't devoted to classes. The even better thing is, if there's a will there's a way. Sorry if I seem to really be pushing - I'm in a band frat, and it's always nice to hear about people wanting to join college bands biggrin . The offer to contact still stands. P.S. - Yeah, FAMU is pretty cool. Grambling State kicks ALOT of a**, though their instand is pretty boring.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:54 am
Melchiresa It's quite possible to balance a job and band. Colleges don't usually have you work full-time (at my uni work study is between 10 and 20 hours a week), and you may be able to negotiate time with your supervisors. Once you figure out where you want to go, check out their work-study hours and look for flexible hours. College isn't as restrictive as high school, in that it's pretty possible to balance multiple things at once since your whole day (most likely) isn't devoted to classes. The even better thing is, if there's a will there's a way. Sorry if I seem to really be pushing - I'm in a band frat, and it's always nice to hear about people wanting to join college bands biggrin . The offer to contact still stands. P.S. - Yeah, FAMU is pretty cool. Grambling State kicks ALOT of a**, though their instand is pretty boring.
Thanks! That's good to know, I'm gonna keep working on my parents. Now I have to find a college with a great science program that marchs piccolo!
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:19 pm
My university (Coastal Carolina University) doesn't take up much time at all, and all I paid was my rental fee.
The class schedule is actually getting cut down from this past season. I think we'll only meet on Wednesdays and Fridays, and then Saturdays before the home games. We had rehearsal on Mondays, but apparently people were complaining about it? IDK. It's also in the late afternoon, 3:15 to 5:30. Band camp is the week before classes start, and that's from Noon-10pm. Luckily, half the day is spent inside, so by the time we get outside, the sun is setting. <3
We march all woodwinds but flute. If you were to come to Coastal, you'd march piccolo. If you don't have one, there's a whopping $5-10 rental fee. There are no auditions except for part placements. Nothing major at all.
We go to all home games, and at least one away game. We do a lot of exhibition performances, so if you want a free Saturday, imagine one. >>'' That's the only down side. The up side? Our away game this year is Penn State. <333
It's soo much fun though. If you want to know anything more let me know! <3
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:30 pm
My band..the Marching Southerners, doesn't really take up all that much time during the week (with the exception of Thursday). It's usually just an hour and a half each day..and three hours on Thursday. Just don't expect to have all that much free time on weekends between football games and exhibitions.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:41 pm
If you want a school with a good science program and a good marching band, may I suggest Stanford? Rice also has a good marching band (Watch the shoes!), I don't know about their science program, but my step-brother graduated from there and went on to be the top of his class at John Hopkins Medical School.
I was impressed by the University of Washington MB, and they have a pretty good science program. Washington State University has a better science program and I know that they march piccolos. But my HS BD graduated from there and my high school band did more complicated routines.
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:23 am
You could always come here to Pitt >_>. Science is a pretty big deal (tons and tons of research grants), and the band is all kinds of awesome.
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:51 pm
Reusin If you want a school with a good science program and a good marching band, may I suggest Stanford? Rice also has a good marching band (Watch the shoes!), I don't know about their science program, but my step-brother graduated from there and went on to be the top of his class at John Hopkins Medical School. I was impressed by the University of Washington MB, and they have a pretty good science program. Washington State University has a better science program and I know that they march piccolos. But my HS BD graduated from there and my high school band did more complicated routines. Stanford doesnt have a marching band they have a scatterband. They're pretty fun to party with i'll tell ya that. <_< Rice doesnt have a marchingband either but of course none of the Ivy League schools do. They created the funny abomination known as The Scatter band. Yes The University of Washington Husky Marching Band does march Pics I dont know much about thier science department but i guess it's good. My friends were mostly music majors or Engineers. WSU does have a good science program and i think they have a Vet program there that's quite impressive. Course i'm a Husky and dont care much for that school <_< (we're rivals)
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Fashionable Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:57 pm
The marching band I'm auditioning for (the Pride of Oklahoma) does march woodwinds, and the only money you have to pay is a few fees at the beginning of the year. No annoying band fundraising (thank God!) There's band camp during the summer, and then nightly rehearsals (don't remember off the top of my head whether it was Tuesday or Thursday or both). As for game attendance, freshmen don't attend away games (with the exception of OU-Texas, OU-OSU, and Bowl games) but they do attend all home games.
OU has a pretty awesome science program, too. They're in the process of building a new chemistry building across from the not-quite-as-new School of Meteorology.
But it's entirely up to you, and what kind of leniency you have with going out-of-state.
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:49 am
My Marching Band (The Pride of West Virgina) marches many instruments including piccolos and clarinets. We have almost 400 people in our band. I, myself, am a piccolo. ^^ Anyway, Marching band does take up a lot up time, but it is worth it. When you run out of those tunnels for the first time at Mountaineer Field, you just get this awesome rush. Nothing compares. And if you dont do marching band, you'll miss it. sad
Depending on what program you want, West Virginia University has the best forensic science program. That's why am here and, of course, for the marching band.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:12 pm
Soranoo My Marching Band (The Pride of West Virgina) marches many instruments including piccolos and clarinets. We have almost 400 people in our band. I, myself, am a piccolo. ^^ Anyway, Marching band does take up a lot up time, but it is worth it. When you run out of those tunnels for the first time at Mountaineer Field, you just get this awesome rush. Nothing compares. And if you dont do marching band, you'll miss it. sad
Depending on what program you want, West Virginia University has the best forensic science program. That's why am here and, of course, for the marching band. Just because I have to: 13- 9. I say it with love. My band was just as surprised as you guys were. The actual name of my band is too long to be catchy (University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band = mouthful!), but the athletic department named us the Pride of the Panthers. Point is - there's alot of moments that happen out on the field that make your hectic schedule completely worth it. For me, it was running out of the tunnel of a packed NFL stadium, completely blinded by C02 smoke, and when my vision cleared all I saw were screaming fans and lights. Biggest adrenaline rush EVER. Do marching band, even if the band isn't big and famous. Even the ivies have scramble bands - which is better than nothing
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