Should I quit the school band?

Question

I play the Trombone (the baritone during marching season) and a freshman in High School. I really enjoyed Marching Band this year and still do. The thing is that next year I will be taking Honor classes in addition to 2 AP courses as well. There is a huge stigma if you leave the band (ie everybody is gonna hate you forver if you quit, specially our band director, im not exagerating I am serious)

All my classes will be academic with almost no "fun" electives execpt for Band but anyone who has been in Band knows that it is one of the biggest time whoeres ever, at its peak during marching season you are at school/events every friday and saturday for almost three weeks.

Do you guys have any advice?

Answer 1

Well when you graduate high school, what will you remember, what your academic classes were like, or how much fun band was? I am now a senior who has been in band plus jazz band for the last four years. I have also done musicals and played in the orchestra. Also, while I was in band, our band went on a trip to Southern California and we marched at Disneyland. Our trip lasted for 4-5 days and it was the BEST trip I've ever been on! This year, we will be going to Canada for our band trip. Our jazz band also competes and we even get to miss a whole day of school to go to Northern Illinois University to compete, and we also get to go bowling while we're at it (while everyone else is at school!). For me, the memories of being in band are worth more than my academics.

Since you're a freshman right now, there will be many memories to come. I know I will remember those warm nights marching at the football games and the trips our bands took. I don't know where I would be right now if I was not in band.

I play the clarinet in Symphonic Band, bass clarinet in Symphonic Orchestra, and the bass in Jazz Band and the pit orchestra for "Bye Bye Birdie." Because of everything I have done, I may get an award at the end of the school year (before I graduate!). Think about what things will be like if you quit band.

Oh, and since you play the trombone and baritone, it would help the band so much if you didn't quit. They are a HUGE commodity, because bands often lack numbers in trombones, baritones, french horns, and tubas (at least at our school). You could end up playing for the orchestra, jazz band, or musical pit. Being in band will also look good to colleges; it shows that you're well rounded. You might even end up in a college band.

You should think about cutting some classes from your schedule if it's possible. Go to your counselor and/or refer to your curriculum guide to see what credits are needed for graduation. You might spare yourself some stress in the future. Also think about what you might want to major in in college, so that the AP classes will be useful.

Answer 2

Oh gosh, I know exactly where you're coming from. I played in the high school marching band as an 8th grader, and I definitely don't want to quit, but I'm afraid academics might become too demanding. Do you have the option of staying in band without being the marching band? Your band director still won't like you too much, but that would be a good way to balance everything out. As a last resort, is there a community band in your area? Talk to your band director (don't mention quiting, just talk about your options) and see what he/she has to say. They might be able to give you alternative ways of being in the band.

Answer 3

I have been there. Although in Canada we didn't have a marching band or anything, we still practices 2-3 times a week and had class every day for one semester. When the time came where I had to chose my courses for grade 12 I had to chose between band and picking up another course that would count towards my marks for university... so I quit.

People were angry, my teacher, who loved me, never talked to me anymore. What can you do though? In the end I don't regret it. I had the option to join the local concert band, I was able to raise my average for when I got into uni by taking a few bird courses and I made lots of new friends.

I say that if it is too much, quit. You can explain to your teacher your delimma ahead of time and mention that you will help to teach someone else how to play baritone and trombone, etc. Tell him you want to make it as easy as possible.

It is basically like quitting a job. You don't want them on your badside and you want to make the transition as easy as possible.

Answer 4

I know exactly what you mean! I'm in high school right now, and it is really hard to be in the marching band/band as well as Honors courses! Last year was too hard for me to handle doing all at the same time, and then I moved schools, so I decided to quit for this year. The band from my old school hates me now. lol. :) However, I do still play the flute for mass at the place I work. I'm not Catholic or anything, but it gives me a chance to practice a bit, and the nuns who go there love hearing me, so it all worked out anyway! Good luck to you. At least in my old marching band, Baritones were always the harshest on people who left the band (except for maybe percussion). lol. I hope you survive!

Answer 5

Being that you're taking Honor classes along with 2 AP courses as well, I can tell that you're the type of person who is involved in the shaping or your future, and probably plan to go to the best college you can get into. Being in band is a huge + for colleges, as music helps stretch your mental boundaries and leaves you more open-minded to learning. I highly reccomend that you stay in band, not only because it will help your college situation a lot, but because it will make you an all-around smarter person. It's definetely a skill you should keep working on.

Answer 6

Don't quit, even if it a pain. In fact, the more of a pain it is, the more you should work hard to do well. Time and again older people say that they wish that they hadn't quit their instrument, or wish teir parent hadn't let them quit. The vast majority regret quitting. But the pleasure only comes after hard work and you have mastered that instrument, overcoming one difficulty after another. But you have to climb the mountain before you can see the view. One person I know of wanted to quit after running into difficulty. But his father said "No, we are not quitters in this family." Now he is a very successful attorney and says, "That was the most important moment in my life." Because of seeing it through, he learned how to overcome what was hard and reaped the benefits of sticking to it, and he does just so today in his job. Passion and desire ebb and flow, come and go. They are emotions and vary from one day to the next. It's not whether you have the passion or desire to do something, it's whether you develop and build and create that desire within yourself. A quitter says he/she doesn't "feel like it anymore" or they've lost or never really had the desire or passion. The magnificent man or woman lights their own desire and creates their own passion, and then sees it through to the end. Don't quit. Light your own fire.

Answer 7

sticking with the band shows a certain level of committment that would really help you later, when it comes to college admissions.

You can get great opportunities in college for marching band (football season) and pep band (basketball season).

If you enjoy the band, definitely stick with it. It's one thing to be involved and go to school. But if you quit the band, you may REALLY regret it later and then there may be no way to get back in there (plus, even if your counselor tried to get you back in there, your committment level to the director has gone out the window and they may not accept you back).

so, yeah....stay in the band. I think it's the best bet.

Answer 8

Don't quit. You got 2 AP courses because you can handle them and it's easy for you. I don't think they will require extra time from you. Also you mentioned that theres no "fun" electives. We need something fun to distract ourself from all the work we have. I suggest you try it out for a couple of weeks. If you see that it's to much then quit, but do go to some performances to support them for fun. If you quit don't think about the people hating you, think that you are doing it for "you" not to please people.

Answer 9

Try band out for a little while and if it dosn't work quit.

Answer 10

dont quit ur band.....it think it'l be good for u!