Engaging Your Beginner...PARENTS!

What ideas are you using to introduce your beginner's parents to your class and encourage them to be engaged in their child's progress on their new instrument? For some of those parents, their child is the first family member to participate in band or orchestra. With a little effort and communication, you can educate your parents on ways to support their child in this new endeavor. Furthermore, as the parents become more familiar with you and your vision for the program, they will likely be supportive of their child's continued participation in the years to come. Below are a few suggestions of simple ways to communicate with your beginner parents and educate them on ways to encourage their child at home.

Parents love to see their child surrounded by friends. Post small group pictures or short videos on your class' web page or the school district's social media platforms. Use an occasional instructional picture or video (i.e. proper posture, hand position, reed placement, etc.) to give your parents something simple they can monitor during home practice.

Utilize music advocacy websites for quick and easy documents that can be posted on your class web page or attached to an email:

• Scott Lang's "Be Part of the Music"
• Teachers Pay Teachers "8 Ways Parents Can Help Their Child Practice at Home" 

Schedule and/or record an abbreviated "Daily Routine" demonstration concert. Your class could demonstrate counting, note naming, and play their daily warmup and 1-2 lines from the method book. To avoid yet another evening commitment, host the concert in your room during the normal class period and record it for those parents unable to attend.

Give your students an extra credit assignment to perform a simple Christmas carol for their family over the holidays. This ensures the instruments get taken home and encourages at least a little practice over the break. The proud parents can submit a recording of the performance or sign a form for credit.

Kale White retired from band directing in May 2016 to join the Palen Music Center team. He was a band director in Oklahoma for 27 years, having taught in Purcell, Owasso, the Putnam City schools in OKC, and the last eighteen years in Jenks. He earned his BME and MME at the University of Oklahoma. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, Oklahoma Music Educators Association, and the Percussive Arts Society.