Monday, January 24, 2022
That certainly is the question in this changing world. For most of my 38 years of teaching, it was understood that beginning band students would rent an instrument from the local music store. Obviously, that was way before internet ordering and big box stores. As the demographic of my school district changed, we found that more and more students/parents needed assistance obtaining an instrument.
Often school districts will not allow directors to enforce a rental cost as this should be a "free public education" and more often that not, don't provide adequate funding to keep those same instruments operational. This is truly a headache for most directors, and more often than not, directors have to be creative in funding repair (and most everything else). We are so numbers-driven that we do most anything to get students to participate. That includes putting an instrument in the beginners' hands. This often creates problems as the student travels from middle school to high school. We experienced great kids getting to high school without an instrument of their own. Most high schools are equipping their rooms with the large expense instruments, percussion equipment, marching equipment, and quality low strings and bows. Regardless, by the 8th or 9th grade, we want students to purchase a "step up" instrument!
Communication is critical. This is uncharted territory for most parents. Make sure they know your expectations for your program and hold tight to them. If the student wants to do something bad enough, the parent usually finds a way. This creates a "buy in" for the student and the parent. Use those things to give validity to your program.
I have included links that might be helpful. My good friend Connor Pratt, assistant band Director at Ponca City Schools, is a third year teacher and graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He has graciously allowed me to include a google document he uses to track his efforts, as well as handouts. He was able to go from providing instruments to 90% of his students to 90% of his students renting their own instrument. While this was terribly time-consuming, the numbers don't lie! And remember to start recruiting, yesterday!
 | Susan Clothier is a native Oklahoman. She attended Oklahoma City University where upon graduation, she immediately started her teaching career. Susan taught in Oklahoma Public schools for 37 years. She took two years off to complete her Masters degree at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX. Susan spent her entire career in Oklahoma, teaching at Western Heights, Washington, Tuttle, and Tecumseh before returning to OKC to serve as Director of Bands at Putnam City North High School for 19 years until retiring in 2018. Susan was named Oklahoma's Band Director of the Year and has been inducted into the Oklahoma Bandmasters Hall of Fame. |
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