Is Marching Band for Me?

Everything you want to know about the Marching Colonels - Benefits and Frequently Asked Questions

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Benefits of Marching Band

• Friends!  Before school begins, students are a part of a large support system.  Band is a big family, and you will learn to depend on one another.  Students are brought together by music and performance.

• Exercise!  Students burn an estimated 200-400 calories per hour of marching band (depending on weight and intensity of drill).  This is a great way to stay active throughout the fall.  Marching band IS a physical activity.  Band camp also counts as hours toward the Y-Fit Program!  Students who participate in Y-Fit can take care of some of their physical education requirements during the summer. 

• Life Skills!  Students learn not only music, but vital skills that will follow them everywhere they go.  Leadership, the value of hard work, goal-setting, time management, responsibility, discipline, team mentality, compassion, social skills, etc.  There are few areas band does not reach.  Students learn skills that promote future success in college or the workplace.  Participation in this activity can lead to scholarship opportunities and significant financial reduction of tuition simply by playing an instrument.

• Intelligence!  Music and marching requires one to use both sides of the brain simultaneously.  Students are actively engaged in the rehearsal and performance process.  Marching band also promotes time management, a major factor for academic success in high school.

• PRIDE!  Participation in marching band immediately places one in the ranks of a successful organization.  Continued success is dependent upon student contribution.  Giving your best to this group will result in a product of which you, and our community, can be proud.  We believe that pride is earned, and that you will earn it here.

• Travel and Performance Opportunities!  Students are exposed to a variety of performance settings and are given the chance to travel to festivals, competitions, sporting events, parades, etc. 

• Most importantly, you receive a gift: the gift of music.  If you give your attendance, dedication, passion, and enthusiasm, you are able to give to others your gifts through performance. 

Marching Band FAQs:

• Can I be a cheerleader, football player, sports star, chess club president, National Honor Society Member, etc., etc., and still be in band?

  • YES!  Most members are involved in a variety of activities.  We encourage such participation and diversity.  These events will sometimes conflict.  However, the band directors and coaches work together to help you with your schedule as you find your niche in high school.

• Finances – How can I pay for all the additional trips, materials, etc.?

  • A student is NEVER denied participation due to financial issues.  There is a place for EVERYONE here.  If you have financial concerns, please speak to Mr. Stanley (your conversation is kept confidential).  Additionally, there are fundraising opportunities throughout the year.  Many things are already paid for (football games, competitions, etc.).  We do respectfully request that if financial problems arise, you actively participate in fundraising activities.

• Do I have to learn a new instrument in high school/marching band?

  • Probably not.  There are some circumstances where students who play one instrument may learn the marching band equivalent (ex: French horns play mellophones, tubas play sousaphones, etc.).  We never ask anything of you that you are not able to do.

• Can I still enroll in a band class and change my schedule if I had not originally planned to take band?

  • Yes!  Please contact your guidance counselor at William Fleming.  They can help with your schedule changes.  Let them know you need to be signed up for a band class.  Please be prepared to tell them your concert band instrument type (woodwind, brass, or percussion).  Counselor names and numbers are below:

    • Last Name: A-Di (Camper Hall)          Sarah Williams                 (540) 853–2019

    • Last Name: Do-J (Hart Hall)                Toni Jewell                         (540) 853–2024

    • Last Name: K-Ri (Smith Hall)             Heavan Chumley              (540) 853–1875

    • Last Name: Ro-Z (Coulter Hall)          Elizabeth Gillespie           (540) 853–2022

• Can I only be in marching band and not concert band?

  • No.  Students who participate in marching band must also sign up for concert band.

• Can I only be in concert band, and not participate in marching band?

  • Yes.  Students may enroll in a concert band course but not participate in the co-curricular marching activity.