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Step 1
Explain that students who join band together often become closer friends because of their common interest in music, and that those friendships last through middle school and high school as band members will have at least that one class together for seven or more years.
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Step 2
Invite some enthusiastic high school band students to your home to talk to your child and his friends about the advantages of being in band and to share some of their favorite band memories.
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Step 3
Tell your child about the perks high school band students enjoy—from wearing cool-looking uniforms, to taking exciting trips with the band, to performing for many school events.
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Step 4
Show your child the evidence which supports the claim that band students traditionally make better grades than students who are not in band. In addition, students enrolled in band classes generally score higher on the math portions of achievement tests than the general student body. Note: You’ll have to paraphrase the research, of course, but a quick search will provide you with plenty of data. Here’s one you might take a look at.Jennifer Anne Haley, "The relationship between instrumental music instruction and academic achievement in fourth-grade students" (January 1, 2001). ETD Collection for Pace University. Paper AAI3026550.http://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI3026550)
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Step 5
Explain to your child that, as a band member, he or she will have the opportunity to play a wide variety of music and learn about different types and styles of music from a variety of periods. This exposure to music makes a person a more discriminating listener.
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Step 6
Explain that as they become proficient on their own instrument, musicians also learn how their instrument relates to other instruments in the band. They become aware of how being part of a group and working together can produce wonderful music.
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Step 7
Remind kids that, although they will need to practice their instruments, there will be very little written homework—if any—for band class.
