Getting 6th grade to do band wasn’t the hardest part, talk up fun things band does; spring trip, parties, pie director in the face for learning scales, etc. Everytime I went to the elementary to recruit I left them with something; an I love band pencil or sticker, just to keep them thinking about it after I leave.
7th and 8th grade retention struggled, there were some reasons for that I couldn’t control being the assistant. Kids wanted to try different things in middle school but I would try to impress on them that the benefit of band was felt greater the longer they stayed. But also the vast majority of 6th graders do not stay in band for 7th grade based on an intrinsic desire to play music; they stay because they have fun, like their teacher, enjoy the fun things they get to do because they are in band, some even stay just to take a waterpark trip at the end of the year. That’s ok, as long as they understand that they also have to work and improve in band.
Worst thing to do though is blame all the elective choices for why there are retention issues.
Responses « Back to index | View thread »