<p>Yeah, you don’t have to come to anything in Band, but the more you go to, the more people you’ll get to know and the more fun you’ll have. Music rehearsals are once a week on Monday nights year-round (including in the summer for those who are on campus).</p>
<p>During fall, there are volleyball games (usually two games every other week), field rehearsals on Wednesday and Friday afternoons (but only in weeks with a football game), and game day on Saturday. Game day pretty much takes all day because you have one last field rehearsal in the morning, break for lunch, then meet up to play for pregame stuff, then play for a tailgate party (and get free food) after the game. We also travel to one football game per year with the entire band, usually to L.A. That takes up a weekend (leave Thursday night, return late Saturday night).</p>
<p>In the winter, there are almost always two basketball games (men’s or women’s) each weekend. The only other traveling we do is to postseason basketball, which happens at the end of spring quarter. Those are limited-size bands, so not everyone gets to go, but the really committed people usually get to go to something, especially if you’re around for spring break. The amount of time you spend on those trips depends on which ones you go on and how the team does, since you go home as soon as the team loses. There is a “try out” band as Princess’Dad refers to, but it doesn’t really mean anything–the members of that group get priority for postseason trips and are required to attend an extra rehearsal every other week (which is also open to anyone who wants to show up). But anyone can show up to home basketball games and other winter events.</p>
<p>Spring schedules revolve around random “rallies” we play all over the place, and so are really unpredictable.</p>
<p>Naturally, very few people (usually just section leaders and management) go to everything, and no one holds it against you for skipping events. Some things–roadtrip, Davis Picnic Day, Big Game, etc.–it’s highly recommended that you go to, and skipping it without a good reason is slightly frowned upon, but those only happen once or twice a quarter.</p>