big commitment and hard work<\/strong>. A lot of time and effort is required in this activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\nPrepping a new show every week or two<\/strong> requires hours of rehearsal. A typical college marching band schedule could be at least 3 group rehearsals and 1 sectional every week. Some rehearse every single day. <\/p>\n\n\n\nGame days are full day obligations<\/strong>, and if travel is involved it can be a multi-day thing. There may also be random pep band events during the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSome bands like drum corps are even more demanding, with more challenging music and shows than the average college band. They have abundant drill<\/strong> and dozens of pages of music<\/strong> to learn. Members are expected to be top performers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBecause of the huge time commitment, you may not have much of a social life outside of the band. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether the demanding schedule is worth it in college depends on whether your goal is primarily to be part of a high performance show, to make friends, or to find a distraction from your classwork. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another con of being in a marching band is having to wear a uniform, including in the heat of late summer\/early fall in some areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>College vs high school marching band<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDepending on your high school, you may have come from a competitive marching band program that attended district competitions and events. There aren\u2019t district or state competitions for college bands, so competition is inspired by rivalry between schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While college band it is more centered around the show and entertainment, there are prestigious college marching bands that put on DCI level shows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Music and drill for college marching bands is more advanced than high school<\/strong>, and there are usually multiple shows within a season. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMany colleges put on a new halftime show every week<\/strong>, while high school marching bands typically do one to two shows per season<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn most cases, college football is more exciting and intense<\/strong> than high school football. The extra pomp and circumstance of the <\/strong>professional level stadiums, lights, and massive crowds are amplified at the college level. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn high school, your freedom is more limited because you are a minor, so band trips and travel are chaperoned. Being adults, college students get to spend their downtime as they please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n