USMMA Athletics and band?

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New@This

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Can a student be in the band and also compete on a varsity team? Or does band take up too much time?
 
DS talked to the band director at Open House last week and asked the same question. He said that there were several different ensembles with varying amounts of practice required. So depending on your instrument, there should be some group you could participate in.

I asked if DS should take his trumpet with him to Indoc. The director said that he had school instruments that DS could use if he needed. And I could bring it with me to Parents Weekend.
 
I know someone who played the trumpet and was also Mr. Football star.
 
My DS is in Band, Offshore Sailing, and Diving teams with no problem. I would bring your own instrument to Indoc. The most intense time for band is between INDOC and beat retreat which is Parents Weekend, so having an instrument you are familiar with is a big help.
 
My 2021 DS is in Band Co and says they have plenty of varsity athletes in Band. As @kpmom2013 said, the biggest commitment will be for Beat Retreat. The school instruments are pretty much POSs, especially the trumpets. Both my DSs took their trumpets to Indoc and kept them in a locker until needed. No problem there. If you're a decent trumpeter, there will be additional opportunities to play - taps, ceremonial events, and even the Trumpet Fanfare, which uses school-supplied herald trumpets.
 
WI-Dad20/21 said:
My 2021 DS is in Band Co and says they have plenty of varsity athletes in Band. As @kpmom2013 said, the biggest commitment will be for Beat Retreat. The school instruments are pretty much POSs, especially the trumpets. Both my DSs took their trumpets to Indoc and kept them in a locker until needed. No problem there. If you're a decent trumpeter, there will be additional opportunities to play - taps, ceremonial events, and even the Trumpet Fanfare, which uses school-supplied herald trumpets.
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WI-Dad20/21:
Did your DS's take there primary "good" trumpets to Indoc or older beat up ones? Isn't that a lot for them to carry at Indoc where I read it was important to pack light?
 
As a former athlete at KP I would say your best advice is going to come from asking the coach of the respective team, while taking into consideration what the Band director says as well.

Although I was not in band co, I had Band co members on my time....not a single one made it to senior year on the sports team. The band (now this is with the old director though so things may have changed) had several conflicts throughout the year for a fall sport and made it extremely difficult on the student. Many of the sports teams are quite competitive and unless you are a star player you probably will see your playing time be inversely proportional to your band commitments.

It can work for some sports, and if you are a star player you will probably get more slack on the sports side, but remember the coaches job is to produce a winning team at the end of the day.

I would recommend having a discussion with yourself as to what is most important: band or sports. If sports then don’t do band (you can always do band later if you want), if band then do band and try to do the sport as well.
 
boatingmom said:
Did your DS's take there primary "good" trumpets to Indoc or older beat up ones? Isn't that a lot for them to carry at Indoc where I read it was important to pack light?
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Yes, they took their professional-grade horns with them. They just dropped them off in O'Hara when they checked in and picked them up at the end of the day. No troubles at all. That said, their horns get used for all sorts of marching and other outdoor activities, so they are at greater risk for dents and dings.
 
The new band director is more flexible with athletes so conflicts are not so much of an issue.
 
You dont go to KP to be an athlete or band member..you go to be a professional licensed mariner, an educated Bachelor, and, if offered, a reserve commissioned officer.

Band and athletics are distractions to keep you sane [maybe not band].

You can not be tossed out for not doing band or athletics, but you sure can be for poor grades.
 
Well some believe athletics is as important and equal to the academics. And it really is not reasonable to disregard those individual drives. If athletics is important then you should embrace it. Not ignore that drive and ability. After all that drive is what got you to KP in the first place. No matter what some may say.
 
Having a balance in your life is what got you to a service academy. What that means is different for everyone. But that balance is what will get you through the difficult times at the academy and will keep you sane throughout the rest of your life. Just my $.02.
 
golfindad said:
Well some believe athletics is as important and equal to the academics. And it really is not reasonable to disregard those individual drives. If athletics is important then you should embrace it. Not ignore that drive and ability. After all that drive is what got you to KP in the first place. No matter what some may say.
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Much of what got me through the joint was playing rugby. . .great release.
 
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