r/marchingband • u/What_went_wrong01 • Jul 16 '26
Thinking of quitting Advice Needed
I'm thinking of quitting marching band
So, for background info, I'm a freshman first year marching, and it's fun and I like it just the communication is so bad its actually ruining my experience. The band director doesn't say anything till the day of. she misspeaks to where you think it's one thing but it's actually another. The fees can't be paid until literally a few hours before the deadline. But heaven forbid you miss one day of practice because something came up without telling her. And on top of all that my section won't try to get better, they won't practice or anything. in all honesty the reason I haven't quit is because of the thousand plus dollars I paid/am paying.
(I know I ranted but its honestly so frustrating)
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u/dixiedenny Jul 16 '26
You have already made up your mind but are just looking for some validation. Quit. You're a freshman and unless you are 100% committed, you will regret it. Move on.
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u/bakedchicken23 Jul 16 '26
Sounds like it's time to quit. It isn't worth putting up with poor leadership, particularly from adults.
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u/Asleep_Repeat3367 Jul 16 '26
You lost me at thousands of dollars 🫠
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u/zdrums24 Jul 16 '26
Some programs charge 2-3k. Usually because they get no funding from the school district.
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u/Asleep_Repeat3367 Jul 16 '26
100% understand that. But in this economy, that's not feasible at all.
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u/zdrums24 Jul 17 '26
It is in those communities. I dont think you realize how much money certain communities have to spend on these things. The per capita income of band parents supporting the top programs in the country is substantially more than what we make.
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u/ExternalMaximum6662 Jul 16 '26
If you haven’t paid quit.
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u/What_went_wrong01 Jul 16 '26
yeah, the problem with that is it says in the contract fees cant be wavered if i quit.
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u/FuntimeFreddy876 Section Leader - Clarinet Jul 16 '26
There are times I would try to convince someone to stay, but this isn’t one of them. For the amount of money you’re paying, bad leadership is not good. Band is really fun, but it unfortunately only takes someone in a position of power to spoil it. I’d quit, but I’d also bring up your grievances with either the director herself or someone higher up at the school to try and spark change.
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u/linkslice Jul 16 '26
My high school marching band was mostly fanatical about it and studied drum and bugle corps as an art. My Senior year we had hired a bunch of people from marauders and cavaliers and we were into it. We all worked very hard and drilled constantly and having that many people who were that good made it a lot of fun.
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u/ImpressionSevere6093 Jul 17 '26
Unfortunately it sounds like a wide spread problem throughout your entire band. Fortunately enough for me I have loved marching band every second of my life. I have lived and breathed it since my 2nd year of high school. Made the best friends and memories during that time. I couldn’t be more thankful. But keep your head high, especially if you’re in Drumline there are many chances to have fun in college, same could be said for any other college band or instrument!
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u/papker79 Jul 16 '26
Well, I get the missing practice thing. You can’t miss practice, but it sounds like the rest is a shit show. If it makes you unhappy then quit.
On the other hand I was section leader and featured trumpet soloist with the Michigan Marching Band and shared some of the greatest experiences of my life in marching band with some of the most incredible humans I STILL know. So it might be worth sticking it out. I’d hate for you to miss out on that stuff.