<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>Glad to hear you’re interested in the NU Marching Band! I was a member for four years (2005-2009) and as an alum I still live in the Chicago area and attend games, etc.</p>
<p>First off, I’d point you to the NUMB website ([Northwestern</a> University ‘Wildcat’ Marching Band](<a href=“http://numb.northwesternbands.org/]Northwestern”>http://numb.northwesternbands.org/)), which has info, links, videos and pictures, contact information, etc. Here’s the gist:</p>
<p>A vast majority of NUMB (like 94%) are non-music majors – and in fact there is a robust engineer population – so you’ll feel perfectly comfortable. Rehearsals are held four days a week (with the guard and drumline rehearsing on the off day) for two hours. MWF, rehearsals are outside from 4-6pm, and Thursdays they’re (usually) indoors 7-9pm, followed by a spirit session (which is the FUN part you don’t want to miss). Throw in the typical 7am-5pm game day, as well as at least one weekend trip as well as a free trip to whatever post-season bowl that Northwestern attends. It is definitely a time commitment, but it’s manageable. A lot of members are double majors and/or heavily involved in other activities (student groups, dorm government, fraternities/sororities, etc.).</p>
<p>I wouldn’t give back my four years in NUMB for anything. If you join as a freshman (which I definitely encourage), you will attend band camp for a week before New Student Week, which basically means you’ll start at Northwestern already familiar with 150 other faces. You’ll be among the most boisterous, fun, school-spirited group on campus. I made some of my very best friends – including one of my current roommates – in NUMB; it’s an incredible bonding experience.</p>
<p>As for non-NUMB ensembles, there is a Concert Band that is made up of mostly non-music majors. Anyone can audition for any group, and if you’re really good you might get into jazz bands or Philharmonia or Symphonic Band. There are a lot of other non-music school options on campus too: There’s a student jazz collective as well as a music fraternity and music sorority that run a number of their own groups (jazz bands, instrument ensembles, etc.). Not to mention the 8 billion a cappella groups on south campus alone. In short, there are a lot of ways to make sure you keep playing, inside or out of the music school.</p>
<p>I know this isn’t your thing exactly, but check out the trombone section’s website ([NUMB</a> Trombones](<a href=“http://groups.northwestern.edu/boneheads/]NUMB”>http://groups.northwestern.edu/boneheads/)) for more of an idea of the spirit and stories of the band. NUMB prides itself on tradition – both as a representative of the university and as a group of goofy college kids. It’s the kind of group where if it’s raining during rehearsal, instead of giving in to being cold and ****ed off, everyone shrugs and jumps around in the mud. You only live once, and you only (probably) do college once. Joining NUMB is a really great way to find your legs at Northwestern and to invest yourself in a fantastic and worthwhile group of people.</p>
<p>Good luck to you both!</p>