I'm currently a high school sophomore (almost a junior, yay!) and I've been having some serious thoughts on what to do next year for my music.

I'm currently in band and orchestra. I play both flute and violin, and honestly, I'm very good at both. I'm a first violin in orchestra (and was All-State 1st alternate, and that was with a grand total of 5 months of private lessons) and I'm in the top of 3 bands, which is pretty hard for sophmores (although there are 3 soph. flutes this year)

I know that after high school, I am going to major in Music Therapy and Education, so I am continuing music, but I am figuring I'll want to pick one instrument in college. I've been debating on whether to pick one instrument for my remainder time in high school as well. I really struggled, mostly in orchestra, with the music. It was pretty difficult and would have taken LOTS of outside practice, plus since band and orchestra are both during first period at school (thats the whole issue.. its so they can start 10 mins early) so i'm only there half the time, so thats that much MORE outside practice. Plus I have an hour for violin lessons (includes travel) and an hour and a half for flute lessons every week.. plus I'm starting piano, so thats 3ish hours of private lessons in a week.. plus practice time for all those.. its quite overwhelming (although in the summer I will have TONS of time)

Part of me wants to just focus on one instrument.. but currently I'd pick flute, and honestly thats mainly because all my friends are in band. In orchestra I have virtually no one to talk to and in band I'm having a blast the whole time as I have always sat next to my best friend.. I also think I want to continue marching band in college and so theres more picks for flute.

Another part is like.. you've been doing this for 5 years (last year I was spoiled since Freshman band was during 5th period, and I was in the first-period orchestra. I didn't have to switch back and forth) So part of me is like.. whats two more years?

I also cannot decide what instrument to pick for All-State tryouts next year. I pretty much know I'll make it on violin next year since I was so close this year (the only reason I didn't get in was cause the Db scale.. i murdered it )

But I also really want to try out on flute.. my flute teacher thinks I could definitely make it. But the numbers are SO much more against me.. 5 out of 60 flutes make it. Last year, 4 of those were from my school alone. 3 will be trying out again next year, I'm assuming they will make it again. Should I wait until two of them graduate and audition on flute my senior year?

Another problem is that if I pick violin, I will still have to be preparing the flute etudes as well because the audition into our schools top band is one of/part of one of the etudes. If i pick flute, I will only prepare flute. I really wish I could just audition on both.. although it would be a problem if i actually made both :P

I know all of this is ultimately my decision.. but any opinions would help Thanks for reading.

Aleiannie mentions all good points.

You should audition for Allstate on Flute regardless of who else is auditioning. You never know who else might screw up their scale and get you in. And it will help prepare you for the next audition.

Majoring in music.
Aleiannie mentioned many schools have very diificult requirements for Flutes. True. Also there are usually fewer flute spots available than violin spots available. Going into Music Therapy and Education your string experience will be very desireable when looking for a job. There are too many music teachers with no string experience.

The most important thing Aleiannie said is how much time can you spend with your instrument? While in college I played no less than 4 hours a day and often 6 - 8 hours. You need to love your instrument and the sound it makes.

Famous quote ::
"Pick something you love to do and you will never have to work a day in your life"

If you are loving flute and having fun then go with the flute. You mentioned some of your fun was having your friend sit next to you in band. Remember s/he will probably not be going to the same college. You will be practicing a lot, by yourself alone. Which instrument do you like to be alone with more? You will need the piano so don't stop that. If you go with flute perhaps cut back on the violin but don't forget it. You can major with Flute, use your piano for piano profficiency, theory, composition, and orchestration classes. And if you have time and/or they need it, you can pull out the violin to help out with the orchestra now and then.

These are things to think about. It will be a dififcult decision. Remember that which ever way you choose is the correct one. Don't look back and second guess it. Enjoy whichever decision you make.

Honestly I think I like flute more. I could easily spend an hour working on scales for flute. When I pull out my violin I practice scales a few minutes (and honestly i think my violin scales are crap. I had them pretty good for all-state last year and now they are crap again) and whatever else I have in like 30 minutes and i'm like.. ok this is nice..

But I also know that I could probably get more scholarships and such on violin than flute. But I'm also pretty sure I want to continue marching band in collge and then obviously i would pick flute.

I really want to talk to my music teachers (at school and my private teachers) to get their opinions.. but this last year was so hard (in orchestra mainly, in band I had hardly any problems with the music after the first concert.. from freshman band the music was a enormous jump in how hard it was!)

Another thing is i think i just perform so much better on flute. For solo ensemble I got 1's, 34/35 points for both instruments, but i was extremely disappointed in my violin solo. That was the worst I'd played in in forever and my flute solo I knew i was going to get a 1. I honestly think the judge was just being super nice to me on violin :P

I'll add more later I have to go

all the comments you have gotten so far are excellent, the more instruments you are adept at, the better, I can teach piano up to the intermediate level which helps supplement my private flute teaching, if you really like to play other woodwinds you can double, they, the good ones, do very well...but whatever you do, do it well, don't get stretched too thin on too many instruments..