The first section of this guide focused on recruitment. After successfully recruiting students for participation in the instrumental music program, it is time to focus on retaining them. In many situations, it has become harder to retain students in the instrumental music program. It has been more difficult to get financial support — and in some cases, moral support — for music programs from school administrations and the public. For all practical purposes, the problems of the music department, like politics, are local. While national leaders tackle national problems, you must tackle the problems of your own music department in your own community. Whatever they are and whatever their urgency, chances are they are not unique. This section of the Retention and Recruitment Guide is designed to help you increase retention in your school.
Public Knowledge Is Public Support
Every music educator must be able to explain, demonstrate and promote the value of music and define its role in the curriculum. Besides being able to articulate the benefits of arts education, music educators must actively pursue opportunities to advocate for music education in their communities. It is important to remember that many people confuse the music program’s utility with its academic value. They understand the goals and achievements of teaching performance skills, promoting school spirit and public relations, encouraging group discipline and teaching cooperation. Although you should include these points and those cited in the most current research, you must always reinforce the goal of music education in transmitting our cultural heritage. You should concentrate on musicianship, aesthetic awareness and the study of high-quality literature as well as providing entertainment. Often, the public will join the administrators and other decision makers in dropping the teaching of music in the school. This is usually done due to pressure to reduce budgets or to increase the teaching of the so-called basics. You will draw the public to your side if you believe and demonstrate that music is more than a tool for teaching other subjects but rather an essential part of civilization and a necessity in all well-rounded educational curriculums.
Preserve Your Most Valuable Resource — Your Students
- Make the aesthetic pleasure one derives from music the most compelling reason to participate
- Foster pride and group recognition
- Give credit to individual accomplishments
- Don’t include fear in your teaching approach
- Show interest in the music they like (even if you don’t like it)
- Make sure all instruments are in excellent playing condition
- Remind parents that repair services are included in most rental contracts
- Make instrument care an important part of the beginner class
- Provide aids — charts, booklets, etc., many of which are provided by manufacturers and publishers
- Seek help when you have a problem — talk to other directors, music dealers, manufacturer and publisher representatives, and attend conventions and clinics
Ideas for Retaining Students and Recruiting Parents
- Use testimonials from students — especially in reaching other students
- Get your message out as far and wide as possible
- Get parents involved in your program
- Show parents how they can help their child during home practice
- Remind parents that every beginner, even Mozart, needed to practice
- Put on a First Performance Demonstration Concert
- Continually keep in touch with parents — send brief, well-timed e-mails highlighting group successes and proven social and academic benefits.
Marketing the Instrumental Music Program
Traits and characteristics of the SUCCESSFUL teacher:
- Well-prepared and organized
- Open, nonthreatening manner with all students
- Clean, well-kept, professional appearance
- Energetic and vivacious
- Good sense of humor
- Understands students’ likes and attitudes (is hip and with it)
- Active professionally
- Willing to admit mistakes
- Supportive of all students
- Cooperates with other school staff and administrators
- Open to new ideas
- Puts in the time to get his/her job done
- Conscious of students’ time and schedules
- Knows his/her craft
- Will move through the class when appropriate
- Maintains discipline
- Maintains a level of cool
- Gives praise and support
- Always working to improve the musical experience for his/her students
Internal:
- Organizes class time with a variety of activities
- Maintains standards
- Doesn’t bore students with too much talk
- Maintains interest for all students
- Recruiting is a proactive yearlong activity
- Concerts are short (at all levels)
- Has clear goals for individuals and groups
External:
- Maintains a positive relationship with administration and fellow teachers
- Communicates with parents and guardians
- Performs in school and community often
- Maintains a professional look and attitude in all performing groups
- Closely scripts all comments at performances
- Performs music within the technical ability of the performers
- Develops connections among school, parents and community
- Advocates for music education
Reasons Students Leave the Program
Personal:
- Failure in academic classes
- Poor practice habits
- Wrong choice of instrument
- Laziness
- Involved in too many other activities
- Problems in transporting larger instruments
Home:
- Family moves away
- Broken or unplayable instrument
- Problems in transporting larger instruments
- Poor home environment
- Lack of suitable practice area
- Lack of parental support
School:
- Not enough class meetings to sustain progress
- Frequent interruptions in class schedule
- Difficulty in academic subjects
- Disciplinary problems
- Lack of administrative support
Teacher:
- Inappropriate instructional methods and materials
- Teacher moves too rapidly
- Teacher does not make goals clear
- Teacher talks too much
- Classes are too large
- Teacher is not enthusiastic
- Teacher is too negative and sarcastic
Actions that Help Retain Students
- Developing personal and group pride
- Putting on a First Performance Demonstration Concert as soon as possible
- Improving communication with parents
- Being creative — incorporate audio-visual materials, new music, recording/playback,
- student conductors, solos and ensembles, clinics and other tools and techniques
- to keep the experience interesting
- Evaluating yourself continually
- Understanding each student as an individual
- Periodically checking student instruments
- Honing your recruitment techniques
- Teaching instrument care and maintenance
- Communicating your needs to administrators
- Being positive and enthusiastic
- Not canceling classes because you are busy — beginners can’t afford it
If Students Leave the Program
Using a simple form similar to a closing interview when an employee leaves a job can often help you in understanding why students are leaving your program. This information can help you improve your program.
Materials from Instrument Manufacturers and Retailers
Many instrument manufacturers produce support materials for music educators. Most are free of charge and can be provided by your local music dealer or can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. Visit the following Web sites to review what is available. Visit the Music Achievement Council web site to access contact information for all manufacturers who are members of the National Association of Band and Orchestra Manufacturers.
The Music Achievement Council produces many materials that will support your recruitment and retention efforts. The First Performance Demonstration Concert is a self-contained publication that provides everything you need to put on a demonstration concert in the first six to eight weeks of your beginning instrumental program. How to Plan a Mass Band Concert is a clear step-by-step scheduling tool to help you put on a Mass Band Concert. Tips for Success is a series of one-sheet helpful hints that covers many topics important to teachers and students. Choose to Teach is a series for middle and high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in the teaching profession.
All of these materials contain useful information that will help you increase the value of your instrumental music program. Most of this material is available as free downloads. For more information, visit: www.musicachievementcouncil.org, or call 1-800-767-6266.
How to Fight Music Cuts
Even if you have been doing everything suggested in this booklet, you may have a situation in which your music program is still being threatened with cuts. Many ideas and practical tools to help you cope with this problem are available. The SupportMusic coalition unites concerned music, parent, arts and civic groups at all levels – local, state and national — in defense of a quality education that includes music and arts for all children.
