Is your child joining band or orchestra for the first time? Embarking on this rewarding journey brings many things to consider for your family. To help you navigate the experience, we’ve gathered insights from seasoned band and orchestra parents to create a list of tips for surviving your first year.
TIP #1: BE PREPARED TO PARTICIPATE
Joining a school music program not only builds lifelong skills but also creates a sense of belonging and community, allowing your child to grow their musical abilities and develop meaningful connections. Equally important is the participation and commitment of parents, who provide a stable and supportive foundation for their children to thrive. Your level of participation has a direct impact on their level of commitment. What’s more, active parental involvement enhances a child’s enthusiasm for their musical endeavors, instilling a sense of pride and motivation.
Parents who show interest in their child’s musical education help create a positive learning environment, reinforcing the values of dedication and practice. Studies and testimonies have shown that students with engaged parents are more likely to excel academically and develop better social skills, making parental support in music programs an essential component for a child’s overall growth and success. Participating in the parent community, whether by volunteering to build props, supporting the band mom or hosting team sleepovers for a group of hungry teens, can significantly enhance the experience for both you and your child. This involvement helps create a fun, supportive environment that fosters camaraderie and a sense of belonging within the group.
Here are some helpful ways you can expect to participate to make it a more rewarding experience:
Attend all performances at concerts, recitals and competitions
Participate and even help facilitate fund raisers
Bring snacks to events for all the students
Volunteer to carpool with other parents
TIP #2: COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Building a support network by staying in touch with music teachers and instructors while also encouraging your child to connect with their teachers and peers is crucial. Understanding the expectations for both you and your child can greatly benefit the entire group. This sense of responsibility and teamwork not only enhances the group’s performance but also creates a supportive and accountable environment among the students.
During peak seasons, such as performance and competition times, it is important for parents to stay connected and communicate with one another. This ensures that everyone is informed about schedules, changes, and requirements, fostering a sense of community and teamwork. Staying in touch allows parents to coordinate support efforts, such as carpooling, volunteering, or sharing responsibilities for events and rehearsals. Moreover, the shared experience and advice from seasoned parents can be invaluable for newcomers, helping them navigate the complexities of peak season with greater ease. By maintaining open lines of communication, parents can help strengthen the overall cohesion and success of the ensemble.
Here are some ways to establish relationships with the school music community:
Utilize school communication tools and platforms to connect with other music parents for advice and support
Join parent-teacher associations or music booster clubs
Encourage your child to communicate their progress and challenges
Engage in the band/orchestra parent community to support each other throughout peak seasons
TIP #3: STAY ORGANIZED
As with any sport or extracurricular activity, organization is key. For your child, this means consistently attending practices and performances while balancing schoolwork and other activities. Practice schedules can vary depending on the instrument and ensemble requirements. In time, your child will
learn the importance of time management and how to do it on their own. But booster parents and band moms (and dads) can also play a significant role in maintaining organization by keeping track of rehearsal and performance schedules, coordinating transportation, and managing communication among parents, students and instructors.
Parents should utilize tools like shared calendars, reminder apps and group messaging to stay on top of important dates and deadlines. Keeping detailed records of your child’s progress, music pieces and performance attire can help avoid last-minute scrambles. Additionally, staying organized allows you to better support your child’s musical journey, ensuring they have the necessary materials, time for practice, and a balanced routine.
Here are some ways you can help your child to stay organized:
Establish a daily routine that includes practice time
Use a family calendar to track rehearsals, performances and deadlines
Encourage your child to use planners or digital calendars to manage their time
TIP #4: CREATE A SPACE FOR PRACTICE
Creating a dedicated practice environment for your child can significantly enhance their learning experience and overall musical development. It minimizes distractions, allowing your child to focus entirely on honing their skills, and also helps them establish a routine, thus promoting discipline and consistency — both essential elements for progress in music.
By providing a well-organized and supportive practice area equipped with necessary instruments and materials, you encourage regular practice and demonstrate the importance of your child’s musical pursuits. Ultimately, this nurturing atmosphere helps your child build confidence, improve their performance, and foster a lifelong love for music.
Here are some ideas for a productive practice environment:
Designate a room or area for practice. Their room, garage, basement or other quiet space will suffice.
Schedule a family “concert” where your child gets to perform their pieces. This provides a goal to work towards and makes practice sessions more meaningful.
Incorporate technology by using an interactive music app (such as Tomplay) that allows them to loop difficult passages and record their performances, then play them back in order to evaluate and improve their skills.
TIP #5: KNOW THE BASICS
While you don’t need to be a musical expert, understanding the basics of your child’s instrument can greatly benefit you. Once they have decided on an instrument, do your research to make sure they get one that fits them and is high quality so it’s built to last. You can get helpful advice from their music instructor or your local dealer to find the best instrument for your child and whether it makes more sense for you to buy or rent.
The next step is to make sure your child knows how to care for their instrument. To maintain the playability and lengthen the life of their instrument, it is critical that they learn to incorporate a regular cleaning and maintenance routine. This will go a long way in helping you avoid costly repairs and at the same time enable them to stay engaged with their instrument as it will be easier to play and will sound better.
Here are some tips:
Understand the basics of instrument care (insert care page link)
Schedule regular check-ups and repairs
Know the importance of proper storage
ENJOY THE JOURNEY!
Becoming a first-time music parent is an adventure filled with a mix of excitement, anticipation and learning opportunities. It involves navigating new experiences such as understanding the dynamics of
band and orchestra programs, supporting your child’s musical journey, and engaging with a vibrant community of parents and educators. It’s a rewarding activity marked by attending performances, learning about different instruments, encouraging practice routines, and being part of fundraisers and events that support the music program. Above all, it’s about witnessing your child’s growth in their musical ability and sharing in their joy and achievements.