More to Start, Fewer to Quit: April Tips to Grow Your Program

Building and sustaining a thriving music program requires intentional strategies that center on student experience, access, and connection. In this edition of More to Start, Fewer to Quit, Lafe Cook shares practical, field-tested insights on both retention and recruitment—highlighting how removing barriers, fostering belonging, and communicating value to students and families can strengthen participation and long-term success.

Lafe is the Director of Bands, Dobyns-Bennett High School Bands and Past President, Tennessee Music Educators Association.

Retention

Retention in a band or orchestra program is ultimately about removing the obstacles that prevent students from continuing. This starts with advocating for your program at the school level—working with administration to build schedules that allow students to stay involved, and reminding decision-makers that band is one of the best values in the building because it serves large numbers of students without the same seat limitations as many other courses. 

Just as important is being mindful of the financial demands placed on families; if fees and fundraising expectations become too high, you risk pricing out the very students you are trying to serve. Above all, retention improves when we consistently put people before the product. While performance excellence matters, students will only stay when they feel supported, valued, and understood. When the experience is built around their needs and their sense of belonging, the results will follow. 

Recruitment

Recruiting for a successful band program is not aimed at just one audience—it must intentionally speak to two key stakeholders: the students and their parents. 

For students, the message should center on experience and connection. They are drawn to the excitement of performances, trips, and the sense of belonging that comes from being part of something bigger than themselves. They want to see friendships, shared goals, and a program where they feel known and valued. 

Parents, on the other hand, are often listening through a different lens. They want to understand how participation in band contributes to their child’s growth beyond music—through the development of soft skills like discipline, teamwork, time management, and perseverance, as well as the positive impact on academic achievement and long-term success. 

One of the most effective ways to communicate both messages is by letting current students tell the story. Hearing directly from high school band members resonates with both audiences in a way that adults often cannot replicate. This can happen through informal visits where high school students spend time in middle school music classes having casual, authentic conversations, as well as more structured opportunities like speaking at middle school band concerts—ideally earlier in the year, rather than at the spring concert when many decisions have already been made.

About MSFQ

Standing for “More to Start, Fewer to Quit,” MSFQ is an open-source, monthly email brought to you by the Music Achievement Council. Each month, this free resource will feature a recruiting idea, retention idea, and tip for success for music educators. The goal is to provide timely and impactful ideas that allow educators to grow their programs by recruiting new students and retaining current students.

Discover more strategies to strengthen your program. Explore the Music Educator Resources.