Information for Parents
In order to volunteer to help our band, whether as a chaperone or a sectional coach, you must complete the school district's online Volunteer Application. This is just to make sure we don't have any serial killers working with our trombone section :-)
Keeping Kids in Band
We have a remarkably high retention rate here in the St. Helens Middle School and High School Bands. This is due, in part, to the tremendous support we receive from our school staff, administration, and most importantly, the parents.
In my career, when I have had kids quit band they have given me a variety of reasons.
1. They aren't very good (or they don't think they are).
2. They are too busy with other activities.
3. They hate practicing (or the parents get sick of begging their kid to practice)
4. They think I'm a jerk.
In my career, when I have had kids quit band they have given me a variety of reasons.
1. They aren't very good (or they don't think they are).
2. They are too busy with other activities.
3. They hate practicing (or the parents get sick of begging their kid to practice)
4. They think I'm a jerk.
But that's not the real problem. Research has shown that the reasons given above are in fact the reasons that the students and parents may THINK they don't want to continue in band, but they are not completely accurate. Notice I said "accurate," not "true." I don't think anyone is lying, I just think that they don't know what's REALLY causing the problem. The real reasons are often beyond what they are capable of understanding.
Parents need to find music just as important as other subjects.
The sad truth is that many non-music teachers and administrators do not find music equally as important as math or English language arts, but parents need to. Besides, you wouldn’t let your child quit math, would you? Many kids would jump at that opportunity. Music is a core subject. Period. The more parents treat it as such, the less students will quit.
Students don’t know how to get better.
Without the proper tools and practice habits to get better at anything, students will become frustrated and want to quit. It is the role of the music educator and the parents to give students ownership over their learning. Teachers must teach students why, how, where, and when to practice, and parents must obtain minimal knowledge about how students learn music in order to properly support them at home.
Parents and students think they aren’t musically talented.
Sure, there are some kids who pick up an instrument and sound decent immediately, but they will hit a wall later and have to work hard to overcome it. Most everyone else won’t sound that great at first. Playing a musical instrument is a craft that, if practiced correctly, is something that all children can find success in. As long as students know how to practice and that it needs to be done regularly, they will get better.
The instrument is in disrepair.
A worn down cork, poor working reed, or small dent can wreak havoc on a child’s playing ability. Sometimes the malfunction is so subtle that the student thinks they are doing something wrong, and frustration mounts. Students, parents, and teachers need to be aware of the basics of instrument maintenance and be on top of repairs when needed.
Other activities are pulling at the child.
Between sports, karate, and other activities, parents grow weary of having “one more thing” to be on top of schedule-wise. Parents need to understand that the enduring social and psychological benefits of music are as enormous as those of sports — in the same and also in different ways. Budget time accordingly and children will have 10 minutes a day to practice an instrument, for sure.