This month's More to Start, Fewer to Quit (MSFQ) tips come from Edward F. Protzman, the Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education School of Music & Theater at Portland State University.
Recruitment Tips
Recruitment is a year-round activity. Although the marching band season is busy, it can also be an excellent time for targeted recruitment activities. During this busy time of the year, the trick is to keep things simple and use events you already have scheduled. Marching season recruitment events can include:
- Sending smaller groups of students to play pep tunes one day a week outside in bus pickup areas for middle and elementary schools.
- Inviting middle school students to play in the stands with the high school marching band,
- Having pep bands play outside buildings as parents arrive for back-to-school nights and parent-teacher conferences.
Retention Tips
Marching band season, although rewarding, can wear on student excitement and energy levels. You can find small ways to give students time to recover their passion and energy for the activity. Some possible physical and mental recharge ideas could include:
- Giving students a day off from practice after a long weekend of football games and competitions.
- Including surprise ice pop or sports drink breaks during hot or long rehearsals.
- Inviting special guests, such as a principal, superintendent, or football coach, to speak to the group during rehearsals to reinforce the group's value to the school.
General Sucess Tip
The school year goes by so quickly that moments of director learning and insight often get lost in the shuffle. To avoid losing learning and program knowledge, create a "Future" document or spreadsheet. In this file, you have a place to note successes and items that do not go well and thoughts on how to improve them in the future. This document could list rehearsal ideas, event logistics, and budgeting and planning successes/failures. Read through what you have listed throughout the semester and again before starting the next school year. Decide what to keep and what to do differently in the future.