I had to drag my kids kicking and screaming their first year for the same reason, it looked scary so that meant they didn't want to tackle it. I posted reference recordings and made chunks into playing tests so that kids sat down with it. Of course a lot of them hated it at first, but when they auditioned and heard others struggling then made a band it really pushed their motivation.

Once they did the process and were celebrated for making a band the rest started to fall into place. Even though other people were scared they started doing it too, and gradually it became something the kids look forward to each year. Now they all tell the JH the same thing, the music only looks scary but isn't that bad.