The Case for Fifth Grade Band
Beginning band is an amazing experience for all those involved in the process. From the students, new parents, and eager staff, the learning atmosphere of a beginning band classroom is one full of excitement. But the landscape of music education and education in general is a constantly shifting sea of sand. Band programs and their directors face interesting challenges within the 21st century. However there remain some constants. One universal challenge tackled by all band directors who teach beginning band is maintaining (or improving) retention rates. Questions commonly asked are: How do I get more students to join? Why did that student quit band? No doubt these issues come with the territory when you …show more content…
The physical, mental, physiological, and social level of the students is certain to have an impact on the growth and retainment of the beginning band students. When a student joins the band, they are who they are, or better stated they are all different. And the individuality of each student plays a role in their excitement level towards starting an instrument, ability, etc. Cramer (1958) states in his overview that “each person his own individual rate of growth.” Holding this a universal truth, are school districts and band programs relinquishing the starting age of band students to the mere confines of the grades in their buildings or are they seeking to understand optimum age in which starting a band instrument would be best for all parties …show more content…
If we continue to admit that all students have their own unique experiences, then those musical experiences before they enter the band program will be varied as well. It would be hard and unnecessary to unify their collective musical conscience in any effort to ascertain what age they are finally “ready” to start on an instrument. However, we can look at what musical offerings have been available or taught prior to beginning band. General music, which no doubt plays a huge role, concert attendance, music festivals the family may have attended, church music or religious ceremonies, and exposure to incidental music as well could factor in this case. Warnock (2005) found that musical background and attitude towards music at home are the most important factors in whether or not a child will be attracted to band. (Cited within Bowles, 1991;Kehrburg, 1984; Larson, 1990; Mountford, 1997). Thus, determining the proper starting age for a child on a beginning band instrument his contingent upon the child’s own personal background long before they ever showed up to that instrument petting zoo. A follow up query to this point is: is there an age when we need to determine that a child has had enough prior exposure to music that they are “ready” to
Beginning band is an amazing experience for all those involved in the process. From the students, new parents, and eager staff, the learning atmosphere of a beginning band classroom is one full of excitement. But the landscape of music education and education in general is a constantly shifting sea of sand. Band programs and their directors face interesting challenges within the 21st century. However there remain some constants. One universal challenge tackled by all band directors who teach beginning band is maintaining (or improving) retention rates. Questions commonly asked are: How do I get more students to join? Why did that student quit band? No doubt these issues come with the territory when you …show more content…
The physical, mental, physiological, and social level of the students is certain to have an impact on the growth and retainment of the beginning band students. When a student joins the band, they are who they are, or better stated they are all different. And the individuality of each student plays a role in their excitement level towards starting an instrument, ability, etc. Cramer (1958) states in his overview that “each person his own individual rate of growth.” Holding this a universal truth, are school districts and band programs relinquishing the starting age of band students to the mere confines of the grades in their buildings or are they seeking to understand optimum age in which starting a band instrument would be best for all parties …show more content…
If we continue to admit that all students have their own unique experiences, then those musical experiences before they enter the band program will be varied as well. It would be hard and unnecessary to unify their collective musical conscience in any effort to ascertain what age they are finally “ready” to start on an instrument. However, we can look at what musical offerings have been available or taught prior to beginning band. General music, which no doubt plays a huge role, concert attendance, music festivals the family may have attended, church music or religious ceremonies, and exposure to incidental music as well could factor in this case. Warnock (2005) found that musical background and attitude towards music at home are the most important factors in whether or not a child will be attracted to band. (Cited within Bowles, 1991;Kehrburg, 1984; Larson, 1990; Mountford, 1997). Thus, determining the proper starting age for a child on a beginning band instrument his contingent upon the child’s own personal background long before they ever showed up to that instrument petting zoo. A follow up query to this point is: is there an age when we need to determine that a child has had enough prior exposure to music that they are “ready” to