At your next student performance, look around for the dedicated band parents. You’ll find the dedicated band parents, hustling and helping out before and after the show. They’re down in the trenches: working five to six nights a week on props, prepping the semi for a long-haul event, pushing hard at a fund-raiser to make sure all the performers can afford to go on that trip of a lifetime. You’ll easily find them–the Dedicated Band\/Orchestra\/Debate\/Choir\/Theatre\/Winter Guard\/Athletic Team\/Percussion Parents–noticeable, efficient and self-effacing.<\/p>\n
The dedicated band parents do what they do because they believe in the kids and the positive effects music, sports, the arts, teamwork, and competition have on kids. (For simplicity, we’ll just call these adults ‘Band Parents’, although we all know that these folks support debaters, athletic teams, performing arts groups, robotics clubs, “We the People” contestants and participants in every conceivable school-sponsored student activity.) All of them work hard, and all of them are very important to their organizations.<\/p>\n
Let’s face it, ‘Band Parents’ need a huge pat on the back. They usually end up doing the work nobody else wants to do. If there is something nobody can figure out, ‘Band Parents’ run to the rescue! Did something break? – call the ‘Band Parents’. Something heavy has to be moved?\u00a0 – get the ‘Band Parents’. Has Timmy accidentally dropped his tuba into a pool teeming with sharks?\u00a0 –\u00a0 here come the ‘Band Parents’…okay, maybe you should draft a Music Travel Consultants Tour Director to jump in on that one…!<\/p>\n
In talking with several ‘Band Parents’, we found that it’s common to see some putting in six hours a night, four to five nights a week, fulfilling the needs of the music program. ‘Band Parents’ are always on call for the band and the directors.\u00a0 ‘Band Parents’ are almost always tagged to build, improve and repair the band’s props. Likewise, they set up the trucks and semis to pull all the equipment to competitions. They fix tires on all the pit instruments, and they handle security in the parking lot after football games so nobody gets run over.\u00a0 They make sure the sound system is working, and that the DOT certification for all band vehicles is current. They bring the pit and props and podiums to the sidelines before the competition, and they make sure those are properly positioned on the field.\u00a0 They cook and sell food at the concession stands at football and basketball games, and if a rival band needs something at a hosted show, host ‘Band Parents’ are the first ones to step up to help. ‘Band Parents’ support the whole band.<\/p>\n
Here’s a sample of what ‘Band Parents’ do:<\/strong><\/p>\n “I am just one of the gushing proud fans and boosters of the Ronald Reagan Band Program. I say this first because it\u2019s what motivates everything we do as a support team for our kids, their directors and staff members, and consultants. With Dan Morrison\u2019s leadership, our goal is to support the program in a way that allows the teachers the freedom to pursue their goals with our children\u2019s best interests in mind. A huge undertaking and well worth the effort for our children! While there are many factors that bring about goal achievement and success, I believe one of the biggest is communication.
\nStarting with the annual recruitment process in the Spring semester, we reach out to incoming families and give them the tools to keep abreast of everything related to the Reagan Band. I support the director\u2019s weekly email with A LOT of short timely follow-up emails giving reminders for all booster and band information, events, activities, and deadlines. From January 2017 through January 2018, the data shows that I have sent 850 emails: most often a very specific subject line, extremely brief body. Here\u2019s why I send so many\u2026families are busy and kids don\u2019t always remember everything they are supposed to tell Mom and Dad. There is just that much going on in everyone\u2019s lives in addition to the Reagan Band! The more informed all family members stay the better the outcome for all!”<\/em><\/p>\n