Questions about Plebe Summer, the Academic Year, or how to prepare?

Hurricane12,

Are you a musician? Didn't think so. You have no idea how hard it is to take someone new to instrument and teach them to play it in a very short amount of time. The amount of effort these kids put into learning on top of all the other things during Plebe Summer is remarkable and indeed outstanding. Like the rest of the brigade, this just shows you have no respect for some people who are passionate about music and are willing to work hard at it.
 
GC44 said:
Hurricane12,

Are you a musician? Didn't think so. You have no idea how hard it is to take someone new to instrument and teach them to play it in a very short amount of time. The amount of effort these kids put into learning on top of all the other things during Plebe Summer is remarkable and indeed outstanding. Like the rest of the brigade, this just shows you have no respect for some people who are passionate about music and are willing to work hard at it.
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I played trumpet for eleven years.

Relax, it's all in good fun.
 
A Musician's Stress

Hurricane keep up the lite humor. I new you were joking. Please continue to provide your much needed and insightful advise. I played five instruments as a child. although I was considered good i never took myself too serious, but as they say its all fun and games until someone loses an eye. There have been a few movies made about the intensity of being in a college band. I'll have to move myself to watch one when I find myself unwillingly strapped to a chair.:shake::yllol::biggrin::shake:
 
esu8 said:
Hurricane keep up the lite humor. I new you were joking. Please continue to provide your much needed and insightful advise. I played five instruments as a child. although I was considered good i never took myself too serious, but as they say its all fun and games until someone loses an eye. There have been a few movies made about the intensity of being in a college band. I'll have to move myself to watch one when I find myself unwillingly strapped to a chair.:shake::yllol::biggrin::shake:
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In fairness to GC44: D&B gets trashed on much more than any subset of people at the Academy by other mids. I can understand why he's a little defensive.
 
Why? because there's still that whole "Band Geek" mentality throughout the rest of the brigade. It's okay though, we're the bigger people and just take it. We go to a lot of pretty awesome places AND get paid for it so the Brigade can hate all it wants.
 
Does the fact you guys get trashed on affect your standing as far as leadership positions, extra duty, restrictions, privileges, etc are concerned?

Maybe this question is hard for some to understand why I'm asking, because the school my DS attends, the marching band is a huge positive part of the school. Most activities start with the marching band doing their thing, at least half of the top 10 kids in each class are in the marching band and they are not considered weird or band nerds (even though most admit they are!) but it's not a negative connotation.
 
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Dial the gate said:
Does the fact you guys get trashed on affect your standing as far as leadership positions, extra duty, restrictions, privileges, etc are concerned?

Maybe this question is hard for some to understand why I'm asking, because the school my DS attends, the marching band is a huge positive part of the school. Most activities start with the marching band doing their thing, at least half of the top 10 kids in each class are in the marching band and they are not considered weird or band nerds (even though most admit they are!) but it's not a negative connotation.
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It's a pity you edited out the part of your post about most mids being "geeky" or "nerds."

Because that's actually kind of true.
 
No. It does not affect standing on leadership, duty, restriction, or privileges at all
 
GC44,

Glad to hear.

Probably brings you all closer together and maybe that is some of the problem as well.
 
GC44 said:
navydad17,

The band consists of a drumline, a pit (xylophones, marimbas, gong, etc.), sops (trumpets), baritones, contras (tubas), euphoniums, and mellophones. There are no trombones, saxophones, or any other woodwinds. It IS the band that plays during halftime at football games
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So if you are a trombone player, are you out of luck??
 
Not at all! They'd ask if you're willing to try out for another instrument and are more than willing to teach you
 
Great to read all the insight from this thread -- especially on the "band geek" stuff.

My DS is a junior and starting the process. One of the many things he is involved in is a nationally competitive marching band which won the Bands of America National Championship in 2011, and finished 2nd in 2012. He's one of those very hard working "band nerds."

He also pushes himself in many other areas -- including raising his fitness level. He currently runs a sub 6 minute mile (working on the 18 minute 3 mile), can do over 20 pullups consistently, etc. It's been great to see his drive toward his goals. He's a somewhat hard charging band nerd.

Oorah to Hurricane12's comment

Admissions into USNA or another commissioning source come down to three things:
-Luck
-Timing
-Performance

You only control one of them. Get a little faith in yourself, go forth, and kick ass.

DS just keeps working on things he can control -- pushing those ACT scores higher, learning concepts in his engineering classes, seeking meaningful leadership roles (Young Marines, youth city council, and band), working on fitness, etc. He's trying to make the best use of his time -- one stage at a time.

He's not necessarily leaning towards band activities if he makes it to the Academy, though.

May all our luck and timing be good

Semper Fi, Fair Winds and Following Seas
 
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