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Now Is The Time To Start Thinking About School Band

Posted on2 Years ago
Love17

Before we know it, we’ll be saying goodbye to another school year and starting a new one. So what will a new school year look like with everything going on in the world.

In relation to school band programs, many music programs have been either put on hiatus or went with small hybrid versions of school band that was challenging for students and teachers. The development of lifelong skills from a school band program have been altered but not lost. Now is the time to get school band started up again.

For Students

Student who are currently in band, it’s important to stick with it. Even though the school band experience was not what it should have been the past two years, it will get better. You only direction is ‘up’ in terms of your skill and your sound. You will discover how great it is playing in a complete band and find challenging pieces of music to enrich your playing experience. Festivals, band trips and concerts are all looking to come back in big ways and they will need players just like you.

Are you beginning? Maybe you missed the first year due to program scheduling? It’s never too late to talk to the band director about joining band. School band programs are notorious for being a welcoming safe place for all skill levels.

Not sure what to play. Check out this Be Part Of The Band video to guide you through the different instrument options like flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, etc.

For Parents

Support. Support. Support.

Support your player

Whether your child is just starting out or went through a challenging year with school band program disruptions, your young musician needs a fan. They need a place to practice. They need someone to purchase or rent a band instrument. They need an audience. They need your support.

Support the band director

The band director job is going to a bit hectic this year trying to get the band(s) back together. Concerts, festivals, repairs, music selection, recruiting… the list goes on and on. Talk to the band director and find out how you can help.

Support the school band program

It costs a lot to run a school band program. Some administrations don’t feel the need for school band programs. Talk to the school. Make sure the division is supporting band programs in your area. It’s proven over and over that school band programs and music programs benefit the child’s overall learning experience.

Looking for a band instrument rental? Well established places like St. John’s Music can help you get started with anything from a trumpet rental price or rent to own clarinet. St. John’s Music Band Instrument Rental Program

For Band Directors

The Music Achievement Council put out the following tips recently to get programs ready to for the Fall.

   MAC tips by Marcia Neel, Senior Director of Education at Yamaha and president of Music Education Consultants, Inc.

   RECRUITMENT TIP Schedule a school assembly at your feeder schools with music that the students will recognize and get excited about hearing. Prior to the final selection, turn to the student audience and ask, “Who would like to conduct the band?” Watch as the majority of hands shoot up into the air. Choose a student and hand them the baton. Plan to have your band play a short march and prepare them to respond to whatever gestures might appear. Since it’s a march, all the “conductor” needs to do is drop their hand to get things started. When the piece is over, be sure the “conductor” receives a rousing round of applause — particularly from your band students. Every elementary student who watches this will wish that they had been chosen to conduct. Use this to your advantage to generate enthusiasm.

   RETENTION TIP Check in with your counselor's office to confirm when next year's class rosters need to be submitted. Registration deadlines may be right around the corner, so if auditions need to be held for your advanced ensembles, this would be a good time to get them scheduled. Also, check to see if changes in the master schedule are planned that might affect your students being able to register for your program. Advanced or AP courses can create challenges for some students.

   SUCCESS TIP Ensure that you have sufficient original concert assessment scores in advance, and number the measures neatly. Even the publishers can get backed up at this time of year (especially given the pandemic challenges), so ordering early will help eliminate the potential for a panic right before festival or assessment.

BONUS TIPS

   Schedule a Parents Meeting  The band parents can be the school band program’s biggest advocate to get students to join and to stay in the band program but they need the tools to get behind it. Plan a in-person or virtual meeting with all the parents. Band fees, festivals or concerts dates, and overall layout of the program can be discussed but most importantly you can let parents know how to get an instrument for their child either through purchasing a used saxophone or getting information on a clarinet rent to own or a trumpet rental price.

   Inventory Check  Now is the time to go through the school band program’s instrument inventory. This will address the school band program’s needs and budget. There may be repair and maintenance needs like a clarinet crack repair or stuck trumpet valves. Make sure all the instruments have gone through a professional cleaning and maintenance by a band instrument repair shop near you.

Let’s have a great band year!

Similar Blogs: The Importance of Joining a School Band Program or Rent or Rent to Own It’s Easy

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