Why Band?
The better question is WHY NOT?
Why You want to join:
1. You want to be a part of an award-winning school sport/activity
2. You have an interest in performing arts and would like an opportunity to express that interest through a school activity
3. You have the opportunity to begin an instrument in grade school and would like to take that experience further
4. You have heard /witnessed how great it is to be part of a high school band program
5. WHY NOT?!?!
Why WE WANT YOU to join:
1. You have experience playing a band instrument through a school band program or prvate lessons
2. You have experience playing a non-band instrument! It can be easy to transition to a new instrument for band and in some cases, we might be able to fit YOUR instrument into our instrumentation!
3. You are a hard-working student who has shown dedication to improving you God-given abilities and reaching your maximum potential.
4. You expect success in everything you do!
5. You have the ability to make the Fenwick Band program even better!
6. You are, or show potential to be, a leader among our peers!
7. You deserve to have (in the of Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser) “A Positively Life Changing Experience,” A Band Experience!
Music Education Statistics
1. Music study can help students understand advanced mathematical concepts. A grasp of proportional math and fractions is a prerequisite to math at higher levels. Music involves ratios, fractions and proportions and thinking space and time. Second-grade students were given four months of piano keyboard training, as well as time using newly designed math software. The group scores over 27 percent higher on proportional math and fractions test than children who used only the math software.
Source: Neurological Research, March 1999
2. High school music students score higher on SAT’s in both verbal and math than their peers. In 2001, SAT takers with coursework or other experience in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 41 points higher on math portion than students with no coursework/experience in the arts.
Source: Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board, compiled by Music Educators National Conf
1. A ten-year study, tracking more than 25,000 students, shows that music-making improves test scores. Regardless of socioeconomic background, music-making students get higher marks in standardized tests than those who had no music involvement. The test scores studied were not only standardized tests, such as the SAT, but also in reading proficiency exams.
Source: Dr. James Catterall, UCLA, 1997
Myths About Marching Band
Not True!
Marching Band IS a commitment, but it is far less of a commitment than many of the sports programs! Everyone participates and achievement depends on the active participation of everyone, from 7th grade to 12th grade, staff to parents!
With exception of a few individual group rehearsals, there is NOTHING scheduled in June, so that students may concentrate on family activities. Full band rehearsals begin the week following July 4th.
I’ve heard that marching band is expensive. How much does it cost for my child to belong to band?
Costs to participate in marching band are kept low as possible (and compared to similar band programs in the area, Fenwick’s band costs are VERY low). There are annual fees for transportation/participation and for band camp. Students are responsible for the purchase of band shoes and any needed car/accessories for their instruments. There may be additional costs for any additional traveling the band does (such as BOA Grand Nationals).
FAMA does everything it can to help families with financial needs. Needs can be brought to the director who will anonymously request the aid from FAMA!
If you have kids in travel sports or other school activities, marching band may seem like a bargain!
Other activities and marching band can be a GREAT mix! Fenwick High School us a smaller school – in order for each organization to be successful we must share students! There is a lot of students (at Fenwick and across the nation) who are involved in sports, dance or other activities. Fall is really the toughest time to juggle and it is true that in some cases, marching band may be more difficult than others. There may be rehearsals where the student may need to come to band late due to other activities or even miss rehearsal all together. The important part is the that the student keeps the band director and their coaches informed of their schedule and tries to be fair to those in the groups relying on them for success! Schedules for marching band, and most other activities, are available WELL in advance for planning.
My child is still in grade school…why would I be interested in high school marching band?
The Fenwick Band welcomes 7th and 8th grade students from Catholic grade schools to be members of the band. Participating in marching band allows junior high school students to become leaders of the grade school program! It also gives them a chance to make bonds with high school students which helps them “ease into” the high school experience through a supportive safety net of friendly faces!