I am personally thankful that I never joined the school band. In the 6th grade, when the time came around for signing up for choir, band, and orchestra, I wanted to sign up for band. I wanted to play the drums. My mom forced me to sign up for orchestra...but I'm so happy she did. I also had to play the violin instead of the cello, but that's a whole different post.
Reasons why my mom actually made the right decision for me:
* It seems around here that stringed instruments are more in demand in the real world. For gigs and other such things, violins especially. Violinists are in high demand everywhere, it seems.
* A really good band sounds awesome...a really good orchestra is phenomenal. When one realizes that string players have no guidance on the fingerboard...no buttons, no frets, nothing...sometimes it almost seems like magic. It can take an awfully long time to develop good intonation. Of course band instruments are not easy; this I know. But for some reason, stringed instruments sound like magic when played the right way.
* All of those football games. I love football. I love football more then most of the dancers and band players, honestly. But all of those hot outdoor practices with the hot uniforms and all of the traveling to games would be just a mite too much for me. That's probably my biggest reason for why I am so thankful I am not in band.
* Band is much more popular. Orchestra is underrated. The band receives more funds. Underdogs always rule.
HOWEVER, a full symphony orchestra is much more amazing than just a plain string orchestra. When the two work together, great things happen.
...a violinist but in High School I was also in Marching Band. Of course, I was in the Color Guard (dancers is not the proper term) but still, the hot summer practices and such. They were a blast and I loved my marching band experience. Orchestra was also amazing. We traveled all over. The band did too, so I traveled a lot in high school, especially since I was also in Choir. Now, I do believe that stringed instruments are infinately harder to play than wind instruments, but that doesn't mean that you should judge the winds. I am now in my fourth year of Symphony and I love it more than I can even express. People can find just as many job opportunities as a drummer as they can a violinist. In fact it's much, much easier to get jobs as a drummer. There is a lot of call for violinists yes, but unless you are a phenominal player no one will be interested. If you plan to make a carreer out of it, I suggest you practice every day for a very long time, because otherwise you won't get farther than a school ensamble with it.
Yes...the drums actually did come to my mind when I wrote that string players were in higher demand (as I see it). None of the other band instruments really came to mind, but the drums did indeed.
No no, I definitely don't judge the winds. I've sat in front of them before and I've heard their stuff. They're pretty amazing if they're good. I respect the wind players very much. I respect all of them really. Thanks for your input, I know other people who have played in both orchestra and band as well. It's all good.
When you said "band," did you mean the marching band or a rock-n-roll kind of band? If it was the former, I can see why your mother would prefer that you take orchestra. No offense, but drums in marching band is not my kind of thing.
What other kind of band would a public school offer along with orchestra and choir?? Come on now! Yes, a marching band. Hopefully in the near future I will play with a rock-n-roll band. I didn't take offense at your drums comment. Do you play anything?
You don't have to be in marching band to be in band. Especially in 6th grade. Yes, orchestras sound awesome, but bands have their own specialness as well. The right piece for the right band sounds incredible, and I'm happy that I ended up playing in a band, though I would've been equally happy had I been offered the choice of orchestra. Music in general is an amazing thing, and I don't think that either is better than the other.
~C
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Well, I was thinking that you and a few friends were thinking of forming a band, which makes it perfectly reasonable for your mother to force to join the other option.
Anyway, I used to play the violin for a couple years, but that was so long ago I doubt I can play "Twinkle, Twinkle" without making any mistakes now.
"You are narrow-minded because you disagree with me."
I have been in the band since 6th grade and I am so happy I joined. I love the people I have met, the games, the practices...everything. I play flute and I was in the color guard. Most of my favorite memories are from Marching Band.
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