If you were in high school band, chances are what you think you know about band programs at Texas A&M might be wrong.
As a member of a competitive band in high school, it probably felt like your entire life was dedicated to practicing and performing. Maybe it was all-consuming, with early mornings and late nights adding up to hundreds of hours at practice.
After feeling “band burnout,” considering joining a collegiate band might leave you with some questions. Between managing time with classes, other involvement commitments and just hanging out with friends, it’s a fair assumption that there’s just not enough time in the day. Or maybe there’s concern about whether succeeding academically in college with a time commitment like band is possible.
However, the Department of Music Activities has good news for students at Texas A&M when it comes to joining a musical ensemble in Aggieland.
Addressing Musical Misconceptions
There are a few things that Dr. Russell Tipton, associate director of bands, and the university band and orchestra staff want Aggies interested in making music to know. The students who join musical ensembles at Texas A&M do it because they love making music.
Unlike many other universities with comparable music programs, there is no “traditional” music major requiring ensemble participation at Texas A&M, which puts the Department of Music Activities in a unique position. The department is able to break many traditional molds that might prevent students from continuing to participate in a band in a collegiate setting.
“Anybody that’s interested in us, we’re interested in them and want to find a place for them in a band at Texas A&M,” shared Tipton.
“When it comes to our programs, we’re able to provide a place where students can have a top-notch musical experience without the extensive time commitments they faced in high school,” Tipton continued. “For a lot of students, they’ll find that joining a band program in college is a lot like coming home. The case opens up the same way it did when they first picked up their instrument, and once they get past worries about academics or being able to participate in other things on campus, they can find a familiar place that becomes their musical home during their time at Texas A&M.”
The Time Commitment
Five hours or less. Depending on which ensemble you are a part of, between two and half and five hours is all it takes for weekly practice in a band or orchestra at Texas A&M. In fact, of the students who decide to join, 90% continue with the band program. Students are also able to utilize their band practices as course credits and slot them right into their weekly schedules. It’s that simple.
There’s a Place for Every Aggie in Music Activities
If you’re a student at Texas A&M, you can join a band at varying abilities. You don’t have to be the first chair to find a fit in one of the ensembles offered. Wherever you're placed, you're guaranteed to be making music with other students who are passionate, talented and dedicated.
Another myth? To join a band at Texas A&M, you have to be in the Corps. The only band that requires a prerequisite of Corps membership is the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. The rest of the 11 ensembles are fair game. Between the four concert bands, three orchestras, two jazz bands and Aggieland Mariachi, there is a spot for every Aggie.
Thriving at Texas A&M Inside and Outside the Classroom
Nearly all of the recruiting is done by word-of-mouth between students, and every band program has grown because of it. Aggies come to Music Activities to follow their passion and end up finding a community that they love to share with others.
It’s a place for students to unwind, tap into their creativity and get social. Since there is no “traditional” music major, Music Activities serves as a connecting point for students who have majors spanning across campus who might otherwise never meet.
Friendships are forged, roommates are found and students socialize with peers who share a similar passion. In fact, members of the various bands find themselves coming to practice early to hang out in the Music Activities building and catch up with their friends. They also get to participate in international trips together for a unique bonding experience, taking their concerts on the road to destinations like Ireland and Spain.
With minimal practice time, Aggies of any major are able to find balance, keep up with their coursework and join other aspects of campus life. Dr. Tipton notes that nearly 60% of band membership is actually made up of students who are STEM majors, debunking many students' fears about challenging majors being a detractor from band participation.
Following the Love of Music at Texas A&M
Kaitlyn Hawkins, a senior mechanical engineering major from San Antonio, represents how Aggies make the musical jump from high school to college because of their mutual love for music. As a piccolo and flute player in the Wind Symphony, she discovered that continuing her passion for music in college didn't mean sacrificing her academic goals or all of her time, either.
Meet Kaitlyn Hawkins
Year: Class of 2026
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Instrument: Piccolo and Flute
Ensemble: Wind Symphony
What made you decide to continue band in college?
I knew I wanted to continue playing, but I was definitely nervous at first. I was obsessed with keeping my 4.0. There was this temptation to just drop band and be done with it like a lot of my peers did. But I'd already invested so many years in my instrument, and I realized how important it was to have that outlet. If you're skilled and you love doing it, why not continue with others who are just as passionate?
How does the time commitment compare to high school?
It's completely different. In high school, it was go, go, go – competitions every weekend and it felt very demanding. Here, rehearsal time is really well-allocated, about five hours per week total. You're still more than able to join other organizations and do other things you want to do. It's not going to feel like you're being swallowed up by the commitment. As an engineering major, it's more of a relaxing thing, a nice way to pull away from STEM classes and just let it be music.
What do you love most about being in the Wind Symphony?
Two main things. First, we play challenging, complex, and engaging music. Even when you finally master the difficult parts, you never get tired of listening to these pieces. Everyone is so committed to making it a magical musical experience. Second, the community. My best friends in college come from band. People will show up an hour before rehearsal just to hang out in the hallway. You meet people with similar interests but outside of your major and your living space. I get to see them every day and make music with my best friends.
Did you ever consider quitting?
I almost quit my freshman year. I thought, "I can't keep making it to the opposite end of campus." I called one of my friends who plays tuba and told him I was scared I wouldn't be able to maintain it. He talked me out of quitting and told me to stick it out just a little longer so I could get used to my schedule in college. In the shock of adjusting, you're willing to drop things to make it easier. But just a few weeks later, campus felt so much less scary and I was so happy I took my friend's advice and stayed with it. You can make it work after you give it some time. If I had quit, I'm not sure what I'd be doing right now.
What lessons have you learned from being a member of the Wind Symphony?
Being in Wind Symphony teaches you to have a sense of timeliness and responsibility. Everyone who is there with you is giving 110%, no one is skipping out or coming late. Because we only practice five hours a week, we have a focused mission together that everyone commits to. And that has really given me a new perspective. I haven't been late to something since I got to college because of band. It taught me a big life lesson about respecting other people's time as well as your own.
What would you say to students considering trying out for band?
At least give it a try. Even if you're worried, audition, see your results, and go from there. It's going to seem really big or scary for the first few weeks or months, but it's so incredibly rewarding. You'll be happy you developed the discipline and didn’t give up on your passion. If you're worried about costs because you don't own your own instrument, that's okay. Music Activities can help provide you with top-of-the-line equipment. I've had mine for 3.5 years.
What are experiences you’ve had through joining an ensemble that you’ve been the most excited about?
By the time I graduate, I'll have done two international trips to Ireland and Spain. Getting to tour in other countries with your bandmates and best friends while performing for European crowds is truly an incredible experience.
What's next after graduation?
After graduation, I'm hoping to attend law school and become a patent lawyer. Mechanical engineering actually pairs really nicely with patent law, so I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned at Texas A&M to that field and future career.
I believe that the skills I've developed here, through band and my research lab, will help get me through law school. As a believer in keeping your outlet, I'll keep playing music even after college. The piccolo is not super apartment-friendly, though, so maybe I’ll try something softer like the harp. We’ll see.
Learn more about Music Activities at Texas A&M at musa.tamu.edu.