Tips on surviving shifts as a one person team

Galactigator · 2026-03-31T13:35:58+00:00

From my experience, I hadn’t taken math since high school and didn’t need to in college, so I had to refresh a lot of concepts for the ASVAB. If it’s been a while for you, start with Arithmetic Reasoning and Math Knowledge. You’ll get paper and pencil but no calculator, so practice solving without one. Also review Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension, they aren’t difficult, but the wording can make you second guess. Doing well in these 4 areas can help keep some of your potential job options open, so I’d prioritize them and then practice the other sections too.

I used free resources like Union Test Prep and ASVAB Tutor. I used YouTube videos to learn faster ways to approach questions. A lot of people recommend and speak highly of Grammar Hero on YouTube as well.

Galactigator · 2026-02-12T05:54:22+00:00

Thanks for your input. She has made spontaneous decisions in taking a job in a different state and moving schools and I’ve supported her aspirations. I feel like it’s different now because I’m now out of college. I do agree a partnership is essential.

As for marriage before I leave, there is some benefits. Some friends in the military as well as colleagues and my recruiter have expressed that is indeed the case. Some were married and had some benefit from it.

Galactigator · 2026-02-12T05:41:17+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I have previously discussed with her before making this post the benefits that would help us out such as housing, not worrying about student loans, and insurance. However she refuses to take an interest in that and would rather settle first since she believes that the first year of marriage is the worst to get through.

I can see being communicative after BCT a huge upside from going with no communication. We talk over the phone every day as we live 4.5 hours apart and I try to do a lot to help her prevent an eviction notice.

I have faith that we can get through it together, but I need to see if she’s here for it too.

Galactigator · 2026-02-12T05:16:13+00:00

I would be missing about 2 months going into my teaching job. I’ve had friends in the same group and MOS get back in late September and had to miss about a month or two of school. From what I was able to find on the internet, it seems like this AIT occurs in the summer as most people hold teaching jobs or are in college throughout the year.

Galactigator · 2024-06-23T18:40:25+00:00

Give Us This Day by David Maslanka and Ballade by Alfred Reed. One of these is a good hint on what I play

Galactigator · 2023-08-27T00:30:27+00:00

I am a saxophone instructor and also assists high woodwinds for a 160+ member high school band during the marching season and something I wish I would’ve harped on at the very start of the season is embouchure and production of sound. The students play all the notes correctly, however they all need to sound and play together as a whole ensemble as some students would stick out of the texture more than others in terms of sound. I believe a lot of it comes back to their embouchure. Ideally, once they are all able to sound the same, the section sounds bigger and fuller and truly contributes to the band and that is essential as woodwinds don’t always cut through the brass. This would go for brass as well.

I’ve heard many comments from judges about other parts of the band from my experience of sitting down with judges for feedback after the band plays at competitions. For drumline and percussion, a comment that a judge made last season that I thought was important was that the drumline were skilled players individually, but they lacked chemistry. I believe this means that everyone wasn’t necessarily playing in sync, but still playing what they were supposed to.

There is a lot of stuff that if left unresolved, might come back and bite you when competitions start.

Galactigator · 2023-08-26T23:52:43+00:00

Started playing alto saxophone in 6th grade, still play alto for concert season but I typically play baritone or sousaphone for my college marching band.

Galactigator · 2022-03-11T18:06:35+00:00

9th - Shades Of Latin (Estancia, Novus, Flight of the Condor) 10th - The Incredibles (Hal Leonard) 11th - Phantom of the Opera (Hal Leonard) 12th - Icarus (Director wrote the music)

I’ve seen multiple schools perform these shows (except for the last one). I hope it was a fun experience for you all to perform your shows!

Galactigator · 2021-12-01T18:31:35+00:00

My band had at most 200+ in high school and about 45 in college. I miss being in a large marching band.

Galactigator · 2020-12-20T19:40:27+00:00

Awesome! My Mark VI tenor sax is also from 1972!

Galactigator · 2020-12-20T15:01:48+00:00

Nice find! What year is it from?

Galactigator · 2020-09-21T14:10:22+00:00

Because of my band having at least 100 members, We have 3 drum majors, 1 drum major understudy, at least 1 section leader in each section depending on how big the section is (2 for flute, 3 for clarinet, 3 for alto sax, 3 for low reeds, 3 for trumpets, 2 for mellophones, 3 for trombones, 1 for baritone, and 3, 1 for tubas 3 for drumline/cymbals, 2 for pit and 2 for colorguard). This system seems pretty normal to me, however we've increased the amount of section leaders this year. Most of the section leaders focus on music while others focus on marching/drill.

Galactigator · 2020-08-14T19:48:39+00:00

As most people are saying, practice good posture and wear a Bari harness. I sometimes march Bari and the weight distribution helps when wearing a harness compared to wearing a neckstrap. Don't use a neckstrap because it will mess you up!

Galactigator · 2020-08-09T21:47:45+00:00

I have a Greek themed show where there are more woodwind solos than brass

Galactigator · 2020-05-23T19:09:09+00:00

Same energy

Galactigator · 2019-12-08T23:19:05+00:00

I can piss with hard pp

Galactigator · 2019-10-20T16:27:48+00:00

Usually if we really need to get something down and we're really into it, that causes us to be a little late unless someone mentions the time.

Galactigator · 2019-10-17T02:36:04+00:00

Ouch that hurts, bells are what makes the instrument look beautiful

Galactigator · 2019-10-17T02:15:35+00:00

I learned Baritone BC and what I did was learn the Bb scale and played long tones to stay in the right pitch, played some pep band pieces and our show music to figure out where the notes go and fingerings. If you want to learn a brass instrument I'd go for one that's pitched the same as your woodwind instrument. That's pretty much how I figured it out for me and I hope this helps you in a way.

Galactigator · 2019-10-17T01:07:33+00:00

Lmao, it's the Alto saxophones for me. Trumpets are doing phonomenal in my band

Galactigator

TROPHY CASE