Questions To Ask Yourself before Starting A Band Program At Your School

I just started a band program at my school this school year. These were the questions that parents and administrators had for me, so I thought I would put them here and possibly help other teachers on the same boat. If you have other good questions to add, please write them in the comments below!

Note: the italics represent my answer for that particular question. Your answers may be totally different, and that is okay!

Please enjoy,

-Bernadette 

• Which grade level will participate in band? 
• Why?
• Note: students start band in grade 5 in my school. I set it up that way because I liked the students' ages and their maturity level. Students in grade 4 were coordinated and understood a higher level of English. 

• Which instruments do I want in my program?
• Note: the instruments available in my program are Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Cornet, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba. 

• Who will buy the instruments? The school? The student?
• Note: If students will borrow a school instrument, do not let them take the instrument home until after they have signed and completed a contract in which they assume liability for the instrument. Need a copy? Here's mine: Instrument Checkout Contract

• How many instruments do I need?
• Note: I needed a class set because band is compulsory in my school. 

• Where will instruments be stored?
• Note: we keep the instruments on the back room's shelves that gets A/C. Okinawa is very humid and instruments would get damaged without A/C.

• How will instruments get repaired?
• Note: we have partnered with a local music store. We have agreed to send our students to them to buy supplies if they service our instruments at a discounted rate.

• What curriculum will I use?
• Note: We use Accent On Achievement and we write our own arrangements for performances.

• How much will curriculum cost?
• Will students buy their own or will the school supply this?
• Note: our curriculum costs 900JPY or about $8. In my school students do not need to buy the book, but may if they want to.

• Will the students perform in front of a live audience?
• If so, when and where?
• Note: For planning a concert, click here: Checklist for Planning a Concert

• How will this program affect the current curriculum in place?
• Note: our students do band for half a year and the Japanese-mandated content the other half of the year. 

• How much will participation in band cost students and their families?
• If a family is concerned about cost, recommend instruments that require low maintenance. 
• Note: A saxophone can be a pricey instrument over time because of the cost of reeds. Brass instruments are usually more affordable (students only need buy their own valve oil and cleaning kit).

• What is the long-term plan for the band program?
• Note: students at our school will play band from grade 5 until grade 9

• Will students continue to play the instrument in other schools throughout their educational journey?
• Note: this is optional for our students, depending on which school they attend after grade 9.

• Who are your feeder schools and which schools do you feed into?
• Note: network with teachers in these schools. Exchange e-mails and ask them to tell you about their program.