In 6th grade, the drop out rate during the year was 40%. Then, people picked other electives, leaving us with 50% of the band. Then, we are divided up into 4 bands. Concert, Concert 2, Symphonic, and Honor. Then, even more people dropped out. We only had enough people for Honor and Concert 2. In Honors, we have 3 clarinets, 3 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 or 3 saxes, 1 bassoon, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 barritones, 2 french horns, and 1 bass clarinet. Guess how chair tests are. Hard. You must have articulation, tone, in tune, etc. PERFECT or you will not pass the grade off. In Concert, the numbers are larger because it's harder to get into Honors.
So anyway, what are your experiences? If you aren't in band, what are some of your experience learning instruments?