The Benefits of Staying in Band

Course Selection Time?

As a parent of a middle schooler myself, I know many of you are looking to make the best decision for the academic and career futures of your child. As course selections are being made in the next few weeks, I would ask that you strongly consider having your child continue band as one of two elective choices next year...Here are some things to consider:

• Being a part of the band program plugs your student into a social network where they are surrounded by positive influences. From adults to peers, the band hall is a place that breeds healthy relationships, high achieving individuals, and success in any future field of study.

• All students must complete one Fine Art elective to qualify for high school graduation. You have worked hard learning to play an instrument, now you get to utilize your skills through middle and high school! (Band earns both high school Fine Art and PE credit!)

• Top music students score an average of 1296 on the SAT exam. (The national average for all students is 1028, and the Texas state average for all students is 978)

• Being in band is great for your child’s college and scholarship applications! Equally important to strong academic performance, top college and universities value students who follow-through with the same extracurricular because they have developed the energy, drive, and commitment to succeed in anything!

• Band students reap a lifetime of benefits! Research shows that students who participate in an activity for more than one year graduate with high academic honors and earn more money over their lifetime. 

• It is possible to participate in other organizations and high school credit courses, in addition to band! This includes Athletics! The Bengal band staff encourages a well-rounded school experience. Individual time management and communication are key.

• Music helps your child learn a Foreign Language. Studies show that foreign language learning skills are based on rhythm, singing & musical perception, and that musical training enhances the acquisition of phonological skills required for foreign language learning. Also, classes like Spanish can be taken in high school for 1 credit per year with much more flexibility in scheduling versus 2 years for a single credit in middle school. Many students need more time to learn the grammatical in’s and out’s of language in order to tackle the rigorous academic side of language courses.

• Participation in band builds critical thinking and attention to detail that allows students to do the “physical and mental gymnastics” that are needed in areas like engineering, medicine, and other STEM fields.

• Learning to play a band instrument takes time. It's something that requires expert feedback from a teacher in class or through private lessons, and is more fun to experience with others! You have one single point of entry during your public school years: beginning band in middle school, while all other electives have the flexibility to be taken at multiple points throughout middle and high school. 

These sample graduation plans are meant to show that band can be a part of students' path toward successful graduation with various endorsements. These plans are not comprehensive by any means; please contact your child's grade level counselor for more specific information regarding the classes/levels of rigor (K/H/AP/DC) right for your student.