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I'm currently a Junior in my high school band, and I have a friend who was a freshman. As everyone knows, freshman are not allowed to try out for Drum Major, but hers was the exception. [Our senior drum major is graduating the following year, so our band needs another D. M.] My Band Director acknowledged her music background; she can play practically every instrument in the band pretty well. But when she DID try out for Drum Major (for her sophomore year), she was chosen out of EVERYBODY who tried out (yes, there were juniors and seniors trying out). Our band talked about her and hated her for it; they thought the only reason she made it was because her mom was drum major for our school's band back in the 90s. When she tried to lead the band during marching practice, half the band, or less, even got their horns up! They didn't listen and always insulted her and kept hating her for being drum major. Messed up or what? Being her friend, I always listened, played during practice when she lead, because I had (and still do); have her back.

I agree. The worst time this happened was when the band director's back was turned, (she went back to the band hall to get something, we practiced all the way out in the back lot). You know, I really think our B.D. should make the stupid people in our band run laps till their legs fell off!!

if shes good, then shes good. i was picked as section leader on sax my first year playing that insterment. (already 2nd chair in the school out of 9) it was my first year playing it and i STILL made seactoin leader.

Look, if u have talent, u have talent. u have to live with it. People were mad at me too. but my friends stuck by me. and it only brought us closer.

(PS. i was a Flute player in marching band and sax section leader. i switched later in the season. u thought u had it messed up.) xd

hmmmmm....well this is a bit tricky.

I think one of the more experienced band members should have been the one to be the new drum major. I dont know about your band but our rule is that only a junior or senior can be a drum major simply because they know the rules and traditions already established, and are more mature (not saying you're friend is immature or anything, just young)

As far as the band disrespecting her, they should learn to show some humility in their lives now because they will need it later. they shoul,d respect your director's decision. However, your director should step in somehow and handle the situation as well, and in my opinion, should not have let her be drum major in the first place.

It's great of you to stand by your friend! ^.^ Keep encouraging her and I hope you band can learn to live with the present situation...

Agree?....Disagree?

Our band's only policy towards drum major auditions is that the person had to have either done a solo/ensemble or tried out for the region band, so anybody that's returning can try. That being said, I'd have to say that if she deserved DM then she should be allowed to be DM. I'm sure the director knows what's best for the band. Also, the people who are being jerks need to learn two things: 1. They're wasting their time in band. If they don't like the BD's decisions, they could always just quit. 2. They're wasting the time of people who want to be successful. Our director's always telling us that band's about the group and not the individual. If we want to represent the school well, we have to work hard and not let personal issues get in the way.

i agree thats what happened to me i can play basically all of the instruments in are band but when i tried out for d.m the director picked my friend because her mom helps out with are uniforms and fund raisers the most. but im fine playing tuba and trombone for now. buy the way love your sig!!!

Ha, that's what I was about to tell you would happen. No matter how young, if a person is qualified, they should be drum major. Your friends' only issue seems to be age. After band camp, everyone should have gotten over their prejudices. The freshmen will follow whoever is drum major, and the rest of the band will just take a little while to see that they are qualified.

If she was honestly better than everyone else, then they need to suck it up and deal with it. It's really immature of them to act like that, especially since she obviously earned it. Being a drum major is a huge responsibility. But if the band director chose her just because she can play most of the instruments and her mom was a drum major, then that's not fair at ALL. But a good band director would choose the best candidate.