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Can anyone answer the following questions about band for me, please?
Thanks, and it is well appreciated!!! 3nodding

1. Is it hard to memorize your music and march and play at the same time?

2. Does it take alot of commitment or can you get by doing the minimum?

3. Is it worth it to be in marching band to be in the concert season?

4. How hard do you have to work to stay in and be good in marching band?

5. If you're scared of large audiences, is marching band for you?

6. Is competing in competitions hard?

7. Any other tips or ideas are taken with pleasure! Thanks to anyone who can answer even just ONE of these questions!

1. Is it hard to memorize your music and march and play at the same time?
Well it was the first year for me, but it gots alot easier this year. What my band director does is before we have the song memorised we march anyways and she put a tape of it on so we know when everything is and how it fits with the music. I really helps alot.

2. Does it take alot of commitment or can you get by doing the minimum?
Commitment, definatly.

3. Is it worth it to be in marching band to be in the concert season?
I love it. Mostly hanging out with people from my band after we're done performing. It's been some of my greatest memories.

4. How hard do you have to work to stay in and be good in marching band?
Well marching isn't to hard for me, but I'm kinda a weak player so I gotsta work on that.

5. If you're scared of large audiences, is marching band for you?
Ya, it can be. I was terrified of an big aucince the begining of my freshman year, but after you do the first couple of shows, you start to calm down cuz you realize you know yor stuff and you really look great out ther. Trust me, people love to watch the marching band.

6. Is competing in competitions hard?
Not if you stay c relaxed, it's just like a performance during a half time show. Same exact rutine.

7. Any other tips or ideas are taken with pleasure! Thanks to anyone who can answer even just ONE of these questions!
Don't worry too much when you first start. I know it's really hard to march and play at the same time at first, but just keep that air going and u'll master it in no time.
STAY AWAKE ON THE BAND BUS! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!
Just have fun, don't worry too much about if you can get everything perfect. U'll do much better if you relax. It'll be better for your air flow too if you're not tense.
Make good friends. Become close with your section. U'll have to live with them for awhile and it's always better if it's peaceful. Plus you guys can have so much fun together.
Branch out, make friends in the other sections, it'll be more fun that way.
Try to stay outta band drama. There's usually not that much of a problem, but yeah (trust me High School is dramtic enough no matter who you are).
Just remember, band members are crazy and perverted. There's nothing that can change that. It will be fun once they have warped your mind (don't worry about it, you won't turn into a bad person, I promise). So just go along with the flow and have a good time in band. I can't think of many other things in high school that are just as fun. People in that class become like a family to you.

A lot of those questions vary from person to person, so these answers are based on my own experience:

1. Memorizing shouldn't be too difficult; just practice and it'll get stuck in your head and remain there at least for a year. I still remember the solo I did for my seventh grade Solo/Ensemble contest (I'm in tenth now).
Marching and playing...extremely hard to say. There are way too many factors such as the direction of marching and instrument (flutes should be exactly parallel to the ground when horns are up and perpendicular when horns are down; the shoulders should always be square to the sidelines if not facing the direction you're marching). It also depends on the type of step your school uses. I find roll-stepping left and playing (flute) to be close to hell on Earth, but marching backwards while playing is easy.

2. Have to say the minimum IS a lot of commitment. You should be ready for extensive rehearsals and to give up many Saturdays.

3. Definitely. The main reason I do marching band is because I'm forced to if I want to stay in concert band, but that doesn't mean marching isn't fun. You get to be with your entire section instead of just who's in your particular band (for multi-band schools).

4. Depends on the school. Our band practices for 2 hours after school every day, except game days. We also give up a holiday for a 3 hour rehearsal.

5. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." In my opinion, if you've been in concert band, marching should be just fine. Trust me, by the end of the season, the football fans will be more afraid of seeing your show for the umpteenth time than you will be of performing it to them. Also, you'll be so focused on your show that you won't even notice the crowd.

6. One-shot competitions are really easy, considering the judges will see you once and give you a rating. Prelim/Finals are a bit harder, especially when the same judges switch their job between rounds (marching<->music). I can't say for sure, but I think they tell each other what to listen/watch for in your second run, which would be bad. Our band missed out on going to the State contest because we placed fourth in finals (we had first in prelims).

7. Tips: Listen to authority or run. Wear the correct attire (including hat/sunglasses) or run. Don't talk/move at attention or run. See where I'm going with this?

Thanks to everyone who posted! I feel more confident and not as stressed so, thanks again! blaugh

1. Is it hard to memorize your music and march and play at the same time?
It can be, but if you work at it a bit, your muscle memory will kick in and you'll be greeeat.
it ain't gonna happen immediately tho'.... lulz
2. Does it take alot of commitment or can you get by doing the minimum?
NEVER GET BY WITH A MINIMUM!!!
You'll never get anywhere with that.
3. Is it worth it to be in marching band to be in the concert season?
YES.
marching band is very fun. (i know a lot of people that like it more than concert season)
4. How hard do you have to work to stay in and be good in marching band?
You just have to learn how to manage your time.
with everything else in band, practice makes perfect.
5. If you're scared of large audiences, is marching band for you?
you can get scared at first, but the adrenaline makes it one of the funnest things you will ever do.
6. Is competing in competitions hard?
It entirely depends on the band.
my band was 1st place in the state of Florida in our class.
7. Any other tips or ideas are taken with pleasure! Thanks to anyone who can answer even just ONE of these questions!
PRACTICE
PRACTICE
PRACTICE.
Breath together, play together.
if your butt muscles are tight, you know your posture is right.
bring water to practice.

. Is it hard to memorize your music and march and play at the same time?
Not if you practice. However I used to just wing it the majority of the time. Honestly, though, you should practice. Oh what my section leader would say if she saw me corrupting the youth of band??

2. Does it take alot of commitment or can you get by doing the minimum?
I got by doing the minimum. It's really not that challenging if your a clarinet and no one can hear you anyway. I learned however that practicing and knowing your sh!t is a lot more fulfilling

3. Is it worth it to be in marching band to be in the concert season?
You should be asking is it worth taking concert band to be in the marching season

4. How hard do you have to work to stay in and be good in marching band?
Not very. Although my schoolds band is tiny so it varies

5. If you're scared of large audiences, is marching band for you?
Its not like your alone, you have your section around you, and thats a huge comfort.

6. Is competing in competitions hard?
Yes. Water+granola bars+under armor+comfy shoes will become your best friends

7. Any other tips or ideas are taken with pleasure!
->Avoid dating the hot drummer. it doesnt end well.

1. Is it hard to memorize your music and march and play at the same time?
It depends on the type of memory you have. If you are like me, with short term photographic memory, yes, it can be difficult to memorize your music, but if you have normal photographic memory, it is only hard your first year. Everyone has a bit of trouble at first, so don't worry, and don't give up.

2. Does it take alot of commitment or can you get by doing the minimum?
It takes a lot of commitment. Some people think it doesn't, and that pulls the whole band down. You should always give 130%

3. Is it worth it to be in marching band to be in the concert season?
Marching band is totally worth it. It is definately hard at first, and many times I've thought about just giving up, but don't. It is really exciting, and everytime I walk into the stadium, whether it be for a competition or a game, I feel the thrill of the audience clapping for something I did, something I have worked toward. It is an amazing feeling, and something that you rarely get in concert season. but concert season also is rewarding. Whenever you get a good reaction from the audience, you feel fullfilled and like you have done something. another amazing feeling.

4. How hard do you have to work to stay in and be good in marching band?
Marching band is not easy. It takes hard work, even outside of rehearsals. You have to be mentally and physically ready.

5. If you're scared of large audiences, is marching band for you?
Of course! It builds confidence. I was afraid of playing in front of even my family, but now I am completely confident with my playing, and I have even gotten better at auditions.

6. Is competing in competitions hard?
Not if you work hard. True, when it is a bit hot out it is a bit difficult because you can get really hot really easily, but all you have to do is what you do at the games. The only thing that is less fun is you don't get to goof off in the stands, no stands tunes and you don't get to dance.

7. Any other tips or ideas are taken with pleasure! Thanks to anyone who can answer even just ONE of these questions!
Be positive! The whole marching season, I was just like "Alright, when is this going to be over?" Even though I loved band, it was difficult for me to do. Then, on the last rehearsal, I decided to change my ways. I started being optimistic, happy and telling myself that things everyone else thought were annoying were fun. The worst parts in our show ended up being really fun, and I found myself improving greatly just after an hour. It was one of the best rehearsalsd I have had, and I wish now that I had done it before.
Stay calm and have fun.
Make friends. A marching band is like a big family. Members are there for you if you need them, but you have to show them you will pay them back with your friendship. Story time! I had PE with a percussionist and I had made friends with her right at the start. Well, the volleyball team I was on decided to kick me out one day and send me to the other side of the net. The other people wouldn't take me either. I got upset because these people were supposedly my friends, but the percussionist notices that I am all alone and getting in trouble because nobody will let me join, and she invites me to join her team. It ends up being a lot of fun. And then I've seen band kids get in fights. Not a good choice on the opposers part. Half the band came to fight for their bandmate.
Stay awake on the band bus! Most bands enjoy playng with sleeping people, and you do not want that. Besides, band at night is wild and fun! My band always bursts into random songs, even after the disappointment at state. We would have 3 songs going on, one in back, one in front and one in the middle. It was really interesting. Once we did three queen songs, another random songs like the pokemon theme, etc. it was hilarious.
Try your hardest. Even if your hardest isn't much, people will relaize this and respect it. A person whose tries their hardest when their hardest isn't much is always better then a person who only tries a bit, even if it may be nearly the same.

1. Is it hard to memorize your music and march and play at the same time?
kind of, but you get used to it/memirise it relitively quickly

2. Does it take alot of commitment or can you get by doing the minimum?
if you try to do the minimum, you will get a quick kick in thee a** and realize that thats not nearly enough.

3. Is it worth it to be in marching band to be in the concert season?
my school dosnt do that but if it did id say yes, bc i like marching band more than concert band... performing on feild is soooo diferent than on stage

4. How hard do you have to work to stay in and be good in marching band?
you dont have to practice in your sleep or anything, but you cant just ignore stuff untill the next practice

5. If you're scared of large audiences, is marching band for you?
probably. youll b freaked out at first, but keep your eyes on the drum major, and after your first competition that wont be a problem anymore

6. Is competing in competitions hard?
as long as you know your stuff, no

7. Any other tips or ideas are taken with pleasure! Thanks to anyone who can answer even just ONE of these questions!
Stay hydrated or you WILL pass out
it may be hard at first, you may hate marching band at first but pperforming is worth it totaly!