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Beginner band at HS

Posted by Need help on 5/7/2026, 10:39 am

Looking for how many actually have a beginner class for high school students that did not take band in middle school.

Re: Beginner band at HS

Posted by rt on 5/9/2026, 11:16 am, in reply to "Beginner band at HS"

6a-No
But I teach music theory and I often recruit kids from that class into band or sometimes choir. For us, most of the beginners unfortunately just get lumped into a lower band instead of a beginner band class. They either do really well or really awful and get frustrated.
I find that if they are joining because of a friend, then they tend to do better because they have a practice buddy to help them out.

Re: Beginner band at HS

Posted by YAH on 5/8/2026, 11:03 pm, in reply to "Beginner band at HS"

I had started high school beginners at one of the high school's I used to work at. It was a benefit and I put them on instruments that we were lacking in numbers.

Re: Beginner band at HS

Posted by ForeverN00B on 5/8/2026, 10:07 am, in reply to "Beginner band at HS"

It's rare to get someone to start band in HS, but we just accept them into the HS band and start them in percussion where they can pick up easy parts, and start taking lessons on the instrument they are suited to. I've had real success stories with this method. It's not scalable, but I've only had one or two at any given time.

Re: Beginner band at HS

Posted by Okay... on 5/8/2026, 8:49 am, in reply to "Beginner band at HS"

...no, but like another poster said below, I've had a couple who gave it a shot and did remarkably well.

I guess I'll bring up the elephant in the room: Are you going to start a dedicated HS beginner band class? If so...whose idea was it: yours or Administration's?

If it was the Admin's idea...I smell "Dumping Ground".

Re: Beginner band at HS

Posted by Hmm on 5/7/2026, 7:56 pm, in reply to "Beginner band at HS"

4A - no, but we do sometimes adopt guard members into winds/percussion for spring season. Rarely turn out excellent but it is fun and rewarding to see achievement, growth, and excitement.

Re: Beginner band at HS

Posted by Mr. Dude on 5/7/2026, 2:59 pm, in reply to "Beginner band at HS"

I don't have a beginner band class per say, but we have had a few beginners each of the last 5 years. Some start in jazz band for a semester, some have started in marching band with the goal that they will march and not play, and learn to play through stand tunes and show music during stand and play time. Some of the kids are shockingly good at picking it up this way. Some aren't, but they are great kids and contribute to the program in other ways.

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