Okay, I am a band geek, forever and always, and a lot of controversy stirs up whenever I talk about how hard it is. People always say band isn't a sport but in a lot of ways we are more advanced than a sport, we practice everyday for 5 hours starting at 8 am going to 1.. in the SUMMER! We practice Tuesdays and Thursday's after school for 2 and a half hours, the beginning of that practice consists of yoga to get your muscles ready to march and some running to pump up your adrenaline AND NO water breaks! We have performances Fridays at football games and Saturdays for Cavalcades, cavalcade mornings, man oh man, we must arrive at 8 am, practice three hours then we go home until report time when we go back for more practice before we actually perform. At after school practices we must memorize music which are 2 pages long usually each band plays three songs, so that's 6 pages of music to memorize. We also must learn our sets, which is where we stand in the show and that's usually 20 sets a song so that's 60 different spots on the field we need to learn, and believe me each set isn't "okay you stand on the 50 yard line" it's "2.5 steps inside the front sideline hash and 3.75 steps outside side 2 35 yard line." It's confusing, plus you need to learn different routes to take so you don't run into other band members. We also need to learn the exact beat our horn goes up to the box and how long it needs to stay up or how long or short we need to halt. It gets hard at cavalcades because there is a judge in your face saying things into a recorder but you can't look him/her in the eyes then they will deduct points for not watching your drum major. If anyone thinks band isn't a sport or matter of factly, more than a sport than you're ridiculous. What's your take?
[ Answer this question ] Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category? Maybe give some free advice about: Sports? Daintree answered Tuesday September 29 2009, 3:32 pm: Thank you for pointing out just what it takes to be a band member. I see them on the T.V. all the time in movies. I have been quite ignorant as to the level of training & dicipline it takes to reach high quality levels of performances. I had now idea. Not everyone can play an instrument so give yourself a pat on the back. Listen to the music of today it's just not thier style and they just don't want to get your style. You can't please everyone so don't even try, you just please yourself. You may be a music teacher or play a concerto someday. keep up the good work. [ Daintree's advice column | Ask Daintree A Question ]
della22 answered Monday September 28 2009, 9:54 pm: i would say its more of an art, then a sport. im not saying its not hard, it might be, but its not really a sport. go through a real sports practice and you'll be vommiting. And honestly while explaining your practice, you seemed whiney. thats not any where near the amount of physical activity it takes to be on a sports team.
im not demeaning what you do. it prob takes alot of concentration and shit like that, but its not the same as a sports team, its just not. your playing an instrument, thats an art, and just because your doing steps and walking while playing dosnt make it a sport.
you dont get water breaks because you dont need them.
everyone has long all day practices that seem to never end, we just are doing more physical activity during it.
so my opinion is that band is not a sport. no. its an art, a fine art at that.
but do me a favor and really watch the football players that your playing for. notice how it takes concentration and physical activity. thats because its a sport.
plus theres no excitment in watching marching band. what would be the highlight of what you do? someone hits a high note? woohoo thats exciting.
and dont just give out bad scores because you dont agree. what did you expect? did you think everyone would agree with you? you asked for our takes so we gave them.
i know and i respect what you guys do and all because like i said, its prob not easy. but just because you practice alot dosnt make you a sport. your an entirely different thing. its art. art with moving. and just cause one guy on your squad does a flip, dosnt mean you all can. your training is differnt.
but then again who am i to judge what a sport is or isnt. i deal with meat heads who tell me that because im a girl, the sport i play, lacrosse, really isnt a sport. so i feel your frustration when all you want is for others to fully appreciate what we do. so if you want to call it a sport, go for it. no one can stop you. but there will always be someone to disagree. [ della22's advice column | Ask della22 A Question ]
California26 answered Monday September 28 2009, 9:39 pm: i think band is physicaly demanding and challenging like many sports but ive never heard of it being a sport.if you want to call it a sport than what the hell why not? keep up the good work. [ California26's advice column | Ask California26 A Question ]
Matt answered Monday September 28 2009, 6:58 pm: By your standards, walking around with heavy objects and memorizing plans is all that's required for a sport. So apparently working construction is now a sport. I'll be sure to alert the media.
Band is a not a sport. To continue proclaiming it is is to continue looking ridiculous.
EDIT:
Way to miss the point. Physical strain does not mean what you're doing is a sport. Nice try. Golf is a sport; there is little to no physical strain. Just suck it up and embrace the word hobby.
EDIT II:
Boo hoo, did the mean columnist answer your question honestly with an answer you didn't like? Poor baby. Where's your bottle?
EDIT III:
Yes, I will keep editing my answer, because I see how eaten up you are by simple logic crushing your ideas. I never said band wasn't difficult to do. Playing an instrument takes talent. Hooray. What you do is tiresome. Hooray. That doesn't make it a sport. Like I said before, why isn't working construction a sport?
EDIT: IV
Thanks for the two sweetheart, however these aren't your games. Your input has literally no impact on how a game will conclude (unless you're an idiot and running out on the field like during The Play...). [ Matt's advice column | Ask Matt A Question ]
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