Recruiting for 2021-22

 

A Quick Note article on recruiting already?! I know, I know...it's only November. BUT, it's the end of November and December is a short month filled with end-of-semester activities and stresses.

When you arrive back at school after winter break, your school counselors are going to be gearing up for enrollments for the 2021-2022 school year. With all of the CRAZY that happened last spring, it is vitally important that you have a plan to get those new students signed up for your beginning ensembles!

The most successful programs recruit all year long. It is a series of little contacts with the students...eating lunch with them, going to their elementary concerts, visiting their music class. The secret is getting them to know you. They are not signing up for band or orchestra; their love for that will come later. They are signing up to be in YOUR class. The parents also need to get to know you. Send them little snippets of information at a time about your program, the benefits of playing an instrument, and how much you are looking forward to little Johnnie being in your class. When their child comes home one day and says "I want to play the trombone!", they will not be surprised, and will encourage their child. If you just send one email out with all of the information, you will overwhelm the parents. With all that in mind, how do we successfully recruit in the COVID world we live in? Here are a couple of suggestions for you:

Virtual Concerts and Performances

Many of you are recording your concerts and streaming them in lieu of in-person concerts. You could really spice these up! The concerts could become projects for your students (both in-person and virtual students). They could help with recording, promotion, editing, or even make Hype Videos to put in your concerts. You could introduce each section that way. You likely have students with YouTube channels that would be all over this! Next, share your concert with the elementary music teachers and the classroom teachers. I'm sure that they will love showing these to their classes.

You can also ask your students to record solo videos...let them edit and be crazy...have a contest. Tell them you want to get the next generation pumped up. Ensemble directors are the best at motivating kids. You can use the Acapella (yes it's spelled that way) app, and send those out. Put the performances on your ensemble social media pages as well as the elementary social media pages; it could be a "look what past students are up to now" feature!

Remember the more you can show off the grade above them (the kids that they know), the better. Yes, your high school ensemble performances will be much better and you can use that as a "see where you can go?", but utilizing the students that they know will give you much better results.

Work with your Elementary Counselors and Teachers!

Find out how and when they are doing class sign-ups and plan your attack. Send emails to parents, but keep them short. The main goal is to get kids in seats next year. Testing can be done in the fall if need be. I would really recommend checking out the BePartoftheMusic.org website. Scott Lang has many free videos, letters, to parents, etc. You can even customize a website for your program that parents can sign up for your ensemble on and you can take that info to your counselors. Your Palen Educational Representatives also have materials that you can use!

Recruiting is not a season; it is 24/7/365. Use words with the students like "WHEN you are in my class" not "IF you are in my class". Always assume that the students will be in your class. I encourage you to start thinking about this now; don't wait. So many schools did not start beginners this year. Even more schools had beginner classes that were 50% less than what they usually start, all because of COVID. It is time to take control and adapt to the situation to preserve your programs. Your Educational Representatives are ready to help you in any way that we can with this. Good luck and Happy Hunting!

Bridgett Randolph received her B.M.E. from Central Methodist University and her M.Ed. from William Woods University and is currently the Educational Representative for Palen Music Center out of Columbia, MO. Prior to her current position, Mrs. Randolph taught instrumental music for eighteen years. She was the Director of Bands at Orrick R-XI Schools, Mid-Buchanan R-V Schools, Southern Boone County R-I Schools, and Smithton Middle School in Columbia Public Schools. Mrs. Randolph's bands consistently earned Superior ratings at MSHSAA State Music Festivals and marching band competitions, her students were selected to All-District and All-State ensembles, and her Smithton Middle School 7th grade band was selected as a performing ensemble to the 75th MMEA Conference. Mrs. Randolph has performed with the Columbia Community Band, Columbia Civic Orchestra, Memories Dance Band, Capitol Kicks Dance Band, Ray Auburn Big Band, and Kerry Strayer Big Band. She is active as a clinician and adjudicator and enjoys playing in big bands and community ensembles so give her a call if you need a trombone player! Mrs. Randolph resides in Columbia, MO with her husband Mark, two children Olivia and Logan, and two dogs Mickey and Jake.Bridgett was named MVP of Palen Music Center in 2018.