A Parent’s Guide to Getting Started With School Band

When kids are learning an instrument for the first time, parents play a crucial role in supporting their musical journey. But parents who didn’t play in the band themselves or don’t have any experience playing music might feel a little intimidated at the thought of their child joining the school band or confused about how to get started.

Luckily, we’re here to help. For more than 126 years, Schmitt Music has been Making Music Makers. We’ve met thousands of new band students and their parents, and we’ve helped them get more familiar with their instruments and find joy in creating music. 

This parent’s guide to getting started with the school band is intended to help you and your child take the first step toward finding success in school band. It’s a collection of frequently asked questions we hear from parents, like you, some basic band terminology, practice tips, and more.

What’s a school band?

If you didn’t play in the school band yourself, your first question might be, What is school band exactly? 

Put simply, a school band is a musical ensemble made up of students around the same age and skill level. Your school will likely offer a beginning band class in which all students are learning their instruments together. Some schools offer small group or one-on-one lesson instruction to beginning band students. The common band instrument families include woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Your band teacher will serve as the conductor, directing the ensemble’s performance as well as teaching the fundamentals of your instrument and music literacy skills.

The goal of a school band is to provide students with the opportunity to learn and perform music as part of a group, develop their skills as musicians, and gain an appreciation for band music.

School bands typically perform a couple of concerts per school year, but may also be involved in other school events, competitions, or various extracurricular opportunities. Extracurricular band opportunities usually include marching band, pep band for sporting events, jazz band, or other types of groups such as a rock band or mariachi band. These opportunities vary by school, so reach out to your band director to see what is available to you.

How does a school band differ from an orchestra?

School bands are different from school orchestras in a few important ways. While both school bands and school orchestras provide students with the opportunity to develop their musical skills, learn teamwork and collaboration, and build self-confidence, they differ in terms of instrumentation, repertoire, and structure.

There are some basic distinctions between school bands and orchestras, but the most important is instrumentation. Bands focus on brass, woodwinds and percussion, while orchestras are primarily strings. While more advanced orchestras include winds and percussion, and some advanced wind ensembles also include double bass, they are not traditionally included at the middle school and early high school levels.

While bands and orchestras both play a wide variety of music, there are pieces traditionally written for each. Traditional orchestral music dates back to the 1600s and the Baroque period, whereas music written for wind band is much more contemporary. Band music often follows the form of marches, but in a beginning band class, you will likely explore several types of pieces arranged specifically for band, drawing on classical, jazz, blues, and other world music influences.

What music is played in the band?

School bands play a wide variety of music, from traditional marches and concert band music to jazz, pop, and rock arrangements. The specific repertoire of a school band may vary depending on the level of the ensemble, the interests and abilities of the students, and the goals of the director.

Traditional concert band music includes pieces composed specifically for wind and percussion instruments, such as overtures, suites, and symphonies. These pieces often feature complex harmonies, intricate rhythms, and challenging technical passages, and are typically performed at concerts and competitions to highlight the different sounds and capabilities of the various instruments in the ensemble.

In addition to traditional concert band music, school bands may also play arrangements of popular songs, jazz standards, and other contemporary music. These pieces may be arranged specifically for the instrumentation of the school band, or may be adaptations of existing pieces for wind and percussion instruments.

Overall, the repertoire of a school band can be diverse, ranging from classical music to modern pop and rock hits, providing students with a variety of musical experiences and opportunities to develop their skills as musicians.

What instruments are typically played in school band?

School bands typically include a variety of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. Some of the most common instruments played in school bands include:

• Flute: A woodwind instrument that produces sound by blowing across a hole in the mouthpiece.
• Clarinet: A woodwind instrument with a single reed that produces sound when the reed vibrates against the mouthpiece. Clarinets have wooden or composite bodies.
• Saxophone: A woodwind instrument that is similar in construction to the clarinet but has a wider range, metal body, and a distinctive sound.
• Trumpet: A high brass instrument with valves that produces sound when the player vibrates their lips into the mouthpiece.
• Trombone: A low brass instrument with a moveable slide that produces sound when the player vibrates their lips into the mouthpiece and manipulates the slide.
• Tuba: A large brass instrument that produces a deep, low-pitched sound.
• Percussion instruments: These include instruments such as marimba, chimes, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and timpani, which are used to add rhythm and texture to the ensemble’s sound. Most school bands will have a wide variety of percussion options, and percussionists are expected to be familiar with all of them.

The specific instrumentation of a school band may vary depending on the level of the ensemble and the goals of the director, but most bands typically include a mix of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments to create a balanced sound.

What are the benefits of joining school band?

There are many benefits to joining a school band, including:

• Learning to play an instrument: Joining a band provides students with the opportunity to learn how to play a musical instrument at a young age. This can help develop fine motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, and strengthen memory and concentration.

• Developing musical skills: Band members improve their musical abilities through regular practice and performances. This can help develop skills such as playing in tune, reading music, and playing with good tone and expression.

• Learning teamwork and collaboration: Much like playing a sport, playing in a band requires teamwork and collaboration. Band members must work together to create a unified sound and rhythm, and they must be able to listen and respond to each other’s playing.

• Building self-confidence: Regular practice and performances can help build self-confidence and self-esteem in band members. As they develop their musical abilities and perform in front of audiences, they may feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.

• Developing discipline and responsibility: Being part of a band requires discipline and responsibility, as band members must regularly attend rehearsals and performances, practice their instruments outside of band class, and maintain their equipment.

• Making new friends: Playing in a school band helps students meet, socialize, and bond with other students with a shared interest. Many students and educators alike credit some of their best school-age memories to band class and the unique bonds developed there.
• Experiencing the joy of music: Most importantly, joining a band is a fun and rewarding way to experience the joy of making music. At Schmitt Music, we’re dedicated to making music makers and developing the life-enriching skills that music provides.

How can I support my student musician?

Many parents of first-time band students wonder how they can support their students, especially during the first year when it’s easy to get frustrated with your instrument.

• Create a supportive environment at home: Getting started with an instrument is tough, and students need time and space to practice at home to get the most out of their instrument. Find a quiet place at home for your child to practice without distractions. Accessories like a music stand and a metronome can help them get the most out of their practice sessions.
• Set realistic goals: When your child wants to play a piece of music that’s a little too advanced for them, it’s easy to get discouraged. Help your child set realistic goals. Establishing small-but-achievable musical milestones will help your child feel accomplished and keep progressing forward.
• Attend performances: By attending performances, you’re showing your child that you’re interested and supportive. Attending performances also gives you an opportunity to see exactly how your child is progressing within the context of a full band.
• Get involved: Connect with your student’s band teacher for opportunities to volunteer with or otherwise support your school music program, or learn about other ways to support your student’s individual growth.

What is the Better Than Rent program?

Schmitt Music’s Better Than Rent Instrument Trial Purchase program gives your child the chance to start school band or orchestra with a quality-controlled, educator-approved instrument. Simply select your instrument, choose a delivery option, and make low monthly payments.

Joining a school band can be an enriching experience for students and parents alike. As a parent, it’s important to understand the basics of school band and how you can support your child’s musical development. Remember, the journey of learning an instrument has its challenges, but the joy of making music and the benefits gained from it last a lifetime.

If you have questions about the school band, particular instruments, or just want to talk to someone about the benefits of playing music at a young age, we’re here to help.  

Get started now by clicking here.

At Schmitt Music, we’re proud to have been Making Music Makers for more than 126 years and counting! Join the fun and feel the comfort of a true music partner by your side.