Success in Grade 6 band does not depend on any innate musical ability or talent. Instead, there are four factors which dictate a student’s success in the band program.
Positive Attitude
Regular Attendance (student and instrument)
Parental Support
At-home Practice
Positive Attitude
This is the key factor. If a student doesn’t enjoy band and doesn’t want to be there, all the talent and regular attendance won’t mean anything. What’s more, a student with a negative attitude in the band classroom brings down everybody’s enjoyment and progress.
In the beginning, the act of learning a new instrument can be very frustrating. In many cases, students are learning the techniques of their instrument, at the same time as using their bodies in new and different ways, as well as learning how to read notes and rhythms. The first six weeks are very slow and painful (figuratively and literally as the students develop previously-unused muscle groups).
It is during these six weeks that the majority of students who are going to drop out of band will choose to quit. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and the more of the other three factors are in play, the shorter that tunnel is. I ask that students and parents commit to staying in band until at least Christmas, to give themselves an honest chance to work through the hard and frustrating parts and enjoy the fruits of their labours. Also, music is selected for the Christmas concert based on the instruments we have, and a sudden vacancy can be disheartening for the whole group.
Regular Attendance
Band is twice a week. Obviously, there will be unavoidable times when a student is not at school, but when he or she is in school, band class is mandatory. We all depend on each other to support our own playing, and students have to learn to hear the other parts and fit themselves into the whole. One class each week is scheduled during lunch hour. This is unavoidable due to scheduling, and it is a sacrifice which band students have to make.
It does happen that students forget to bring in their instruments on a band day. Obviously, this is regrettable, but students are still required to attend band class, even without instruments. They are expected to follow along, watching the music of their neighbour, and “ghosting” along (playing an imaginary instrument, moving their fingers at the appropriate times).
Parental Support
The best ways a parent can show support for the band program is by making it clear that band is a class like any other, requiring home work and dedication. This includes making every effort to attend the concerts in December and June. When parents view Grade 6 band as just another extra-curricular activity, students don’t take it seriously, and performance suffers.
At-Home Practice
Students do not have enough class time during the week to progress in band. Learning an instrument is a complicated process that requires repetition. At-home practice also helps students develop their facial muscles faster, meaning the painful period is shorter.
Students should practice a couple times during the week, for 15-20 minutes each time. Daily practice of less time also works—5 ten-minute practice sessions are way more valuable for learning an instrument than one big hour-long session. In the beginning, students should practice to the point where their face hurts, push themselves a little bit more to develop the strength, and then stop. In addition to actually playing, students can tap rhythms and use their fingering charts to identify notes.
By focusing on these four factors for success, students and parents will find Grade 6 band a challenging but rewarding experience, and they will be well-prepared to continue with band in junior high, if they so choose.