High School Beginner Band
igh school director: should he open to cmate a
Iginner fund. Yes, it di climinate conference time
Irom my schedule, but the recuh was increased student
partcipition and rtention. Sudents were gmted ss pet
ofthe family from the day they decided to join and were
allowed to paricipate in all stvities By this means, we
reemited students who desind to be in band but were
anable because of lack of access or avalaility im their
schedule
Social Meda
Greate unique handle for yourband. Allo staceholders
1o tg your band to share postive cortent via socal med.
This platform will allow you to reach sudents who may rot
listen to announcements or se fers posed inthe choo
Soci media san extension of your classroom and a useful
rescurce to allow community members, arts, and other
ellos stay vl yaurapam ay
u
Sac feomomie Status,
Be Vulnerable
One of my fist reccmmendaticns to any rew teacher is
vo gst familar with the community you are serving. Drive
around andfind local placestocat Although [wasa product
ofthe neighborhoods sever of my students resided in, Iwas
sill suprised to hear some of the adversties my students
wer facing, Afr inquiring why some of my students were
ot pracicng at home, they shared they didnt fel safe
vraling home with their instrament. Instead of punishing
‘her for ther lack of practice | created time in my schedule
vo ave abit earl, offer lunch practice sessions and sty
bit later ster school. This “dept” allowed me to rach
coven more students
“Empathize with their Economic Situation
‘When we serve low-income students, we may create
armtives about our student financial stations that dont
eee hax raed evel had pgm
1 ed gles 15 neal sae
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really exis. Instead, kt ur crate lations for our students
and Lamiles such
+ Crate Mehl mheasal echedules
+ Implement payment plans
1 Find sponsors to defy cos
+ Disignate funrsserstoassst with student fre
Listen to each students situation and be cpen to
adjusting your expecatens on acas: by ca basis. Do not
blame studen' fr scmething they cannot contol
Develop « Cultural Understanding
| remenbe heping one of my coleagies undersund the
inporiane ofa quincavre wtls Latin Lai. Led
ny insight into the calurl cvent he planned to atend His
itendance rete ina hage emetional deport and recived
scveral invitation: to other quinceafcrs therefier Allow
yourall the opportunity to be prot for your studknts!
pecil events, If atending offcampus events i not an
‘option he open to supporting nn music academic events
Survey your studenic about their individual and
family mcical preferences. The data collected wal allow
yu to make informed decciens about the music and
performances you will program throughout the year A
tach site that allows you to fired mpertire that connects
your student home music with their school music ww
Ccomposeriversitycom. If your program has the capacity
to implement cuitnly elvani ensembles, do so. These
familiar musical experiences could lead students to be
more receptive to traditional ensembles: Mariachi, Bass
Bands, Latin Percussion Ensembles, Juz Bands, Banda
Sinalocnse, and ConjunteTeano,
Tam present tothe fact that each of our programs are
unique and should be viewed on an individual basis
I challenge each of you to try one ofthe strategie above.
Be vulnerble and keep the forging of relationships as
_drwing force in your teaching Best of luck to you as we
continie io make deposi through the vehicle of msc!
at hata MS, Homo US, ap HS,
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