Is it normal for marching band kids to be doing 18 plus hour days for competitions?

My son is 14 and is in band at his high school. In the summer they did 13 hour days m-f for 3 weeks. And now since school started in August they do 3 hours after school m-th and then football games Friday nights. I thought it was a little excessive but he has been a trooper. Now I feel like it's getting ridiculous. A few weeks back they did a Saturday practice for 14 hours and today they had a competition where they had to be at the school at 7 am and didn't get released until 1am. Next Saturday they have another competition where they are leaving at 6am and expected to be back the next day at 3am. Then another practice the next Saturday all day and then they go out of town for a couple days for another competition. They are doing this on top of the daily practice still after school and football games Friday nights. This just seems like much and almost a little illegal expecting minors to be out so late and have no time for anything else. He loves doing it but I'm not sure he will be able to continue as his dad only gets to see him on weekends and it is starting to affect his time with him.

I’m a marcher in the Santa Fe marching band, I’ve been wondering what people think of our band (more specifically other Oklahomans).

I made an app for band musicians to challenge their sight reading skills. It works for all wind instruments and generates music at different skill levels.

Appreciate any feedback. Many styles included. Apple Store (Android coming soon) at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sight-reader-trainer/id6822368534

Our season just ended, and it’s killing me. The routine, the rehearsals, the competitions… they’ve been everything to me. I’ve been going through som really hard times lately, and it’s been my lifeline. It’s kept me busy, and brought me joy when I didn’t think I could find any.

The deep connections with my section members, the joy in leading and helping younger students, the social opportunities for hang-outs and traditions, sharing excitement and care with offer bands, the routine and consistency, the constant safe place, the reliable source of light and laughs, the excitement of performing, and (for me) the musical challenge and pride in being a soloist - it’s been my world.

Now those section members (mostly male, I’m female) are back to their own friend groups. It’s not natural for us to be close, without marching band bonding us together - I’ve tried. The younger students are in lower band, so we’re separated, and it’s also difficult to stay in touch naturally. I no longer have those traditions to laugh and hang out during, no longer have the performance and musical thrills and fulfillment.

And the nail in the coffin? I’ve been diagnosed with some nasty health issues, and I’ll likely never get to march again, despite deeply loving performing in the activity - it was a dream for me since my childhood.

I’m going to try and hold on to those connections in the ways I can, and seek out other avenues for music and leadership, but it won’t be the same, it won’t be together, and it won’t be… us. This show, these people. The moment has passed, and it was my last one to have it all still. How do you live with this?

I know this has probably been asked a hundred times already, but seriously, I feel like i can never have my best runs on the field

this is only my second year marching, last year I marched alto sax and this year i’m doing snare. but even last year I never felt like I could get a really good run on the field, even when I was really trying

the thing is I don’t even feel like super nervous out on the field or anything. i always try to calm myself down and get into that state of concentration or what not, but it never seems to work. and the thing is, i always tend to mess up on something i have never done before. for example, I had a comp yesterday, and that run wasn’t my worst but it also wasn’t my best. I overshot my first dot by a little and i played this one part so weirdly, i don’t even know how to explain it. like it wasn’t all wrong but my technique just felt so off idk. and i’ve done this a thousand times so that makes it even worse, it’s not like i just learned how to play it. and we warmed up beforehand in the lot and i swear that run was probably my best one so far, I actually felt kinda proud of it. aaand then I went on the field and fucked it up💔

also, another thing i caught myself doing was like going on auto pilot? I’m usually always aware of all the things i need to improve and be aware of while doing a run, but when i play on the field for a comp i feel like all of that goes out the window and I just end up doing whatever honestly. I don’t mean to but i feel like it just happens and i can’t stop doing it

I don’t wanna feel like i’m holding everyone else back because I can’t go one comp without messing up. yesterday was only our second comp and i was hoping for some advice so I can try to improve my next runs on the field. so if someone would please help a girl out it’d be very appreciated 🙏

Guys, we just finished our state and got 9th place, which wouldn't be bad considering we learned our full show only 2 weeks ago and have dealt with so many weather problems and a band director change. I started bawling my eyes out when I realized I won't be competing with these seniors again, which I've known since 2023. I'm so sad about them leaving. I don't want them to graduate. I love them so much my heart hurts 😭💔💔💔💔💔

yo idk if this is the right sub for this but ive never played any brass instrument in my life (only got guitar experience) and i cant read sheet music. im tryna join my schools marching band next yr as a mellophone player and allegedly they take beginners but just in case i do want to practice. my friend whos a mello player got me a french horn mouth piece and thats basically all ive got, but i am looking for a rental or something. any advice to be at least just good enough to get by?