Behind every successful band
is an active group of band parents.
Our band parent organization is a VITAL
component to the band program. No matter what your talents or how pressed
for time you are, there is probably something you can do to help. There
are many ways to get involved, ranging from simply attending concerts
and events to raising funds, chaperoning, and helping to lead this organization.
Why join? Here is a list of some of the group's
activities:
Cheering and moral support
Band parents are highly encouraged to attend practices, rehearsals,
and performances to show their support for the band. Your child will
be motivated to much higher levels with your presence at these events.
For outdoor events, parents are encouraged to sit together in support
of the band.
Road trip support
Performing off campus across town or across the country requires several
types of support ranging from transporting students, instruments, and
equipment, to acting as chaperones.
Fund-raising
Raising money for the band program is one of the main objectives of
the band booster organization. When all members contribute to funding
the program equally, no one is overworked. In many other school music
programs across the US parent groups raise money for "extra"
programs. At NGHS fundraising is vital to our survival. In such a large
school system, financial resources are spread so thin that none of the
13 high school band programs could hope to survive on provided funding
from the school system's budget; there are just too many other places
the money has to go. Consequently, our band program's survival relies
on the work and contributions of the band parents. By participating
in the band boosters' fund-raising efforts, you help ensure the financial
well-being or your student's band.
Advocacy
We presently enjoy the support of the Gwinnett County School Board for
K-12 music education in our district. However, there may come a time
when school board budget cuts and/or reform measures threaten the very
survival of the band and other fine arts within our school system. An
increasingly important function of band boosters is promoting music
education as a necessary part of the curriculum. Whether the threat
to music education is budgetary or political in nature, the underlying
attitude is the same: School board members may be willing to sacrifice
music education because they view it as a "frill," not as
an essential part of every child's education. If music education is
to survive in this country, this attitude must change - and it must
change at the local level, where school monies are raised and decisions
are made.
Working Together
Its important to keep in mind that the role of band boosters is to support
the music program by working in conjunction with the band directors.
The experience and vision of the directors must be relied upon when
making decisions concerning the direction and philosophy of the band
to ensure success of the program as a whole.
