Abysmal music program/what to do/talk to head of school??

[Anonymous]

Long story short: DS attended a public gifted magnet (out of DC area) for middle school. We picked it for the academics. Turned out it had a phenomenal band program. DS learned the trombone, and got really good. Band was playing level 4 music and competing regionally at end of 8th. We were astounded how good they were.
DS is now at an elite private (not DC), and academics and sports are fantastic. it's everything we wanted, except the band program is bad. We knew going in that it was going to be a step down, but it's worse than we imagined. The director doesn't know what he's doing, doesn't link the kids up or prepare them for all city/all state. Some of the kids can barely read music. DS went from playing tough classical and music scores to playing Stevie Wonder. There are definitely things the school could do. For example, there's an advanced band (11th & 12th), that they could have had kids audition for. Instead of sorting it by grade. Also, the band class could be organized to directly teach reading music in the lower school, instead of relying on private lessons (which many kids don't do/time constraint issues).
I know 2 fellow families who feel the exact same, so it's not just us.

Can I go the head of the school about this? Or the board? Is that too much? How do you communicate disappointment and suggestions to a private school? We have tried talking to the band teacher. He's nice enough, just clueless.

[Anonymous]

Would it be too much to ask for an appointment to discuss with him?

[Anonymous]

It won’t change unless enough parents get together and meet with the head/board to present ideas for how to overhaul the program, what that could cost, and ways to fundraise. One parent doesn’t represent enough interest (or, frankly, fundraising power) for the school to bother investing in a significant reworking of a band program in multiple divisions the way you are suggesting.

[Anonymous]

At our school they handle much of what you are asking for outside of the school day.

The elementary band is after school.

The advanced, auditioned-based band is before school. Kids from that band are also in the regular band.

Both programs cost extra and require extra time from the director.

Does the lower school have a general music class? Can they not teach basic score reading in music?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It won’t change unless enough parents get together and meet with the head/board to present ideas for how to overhaul the program, what that could cost, and ways to fundraise. One parent doesn’t represent enough interest (or, frankly, fundraising power) for the school to bother investing in a significant reworking of a band program in multiple divisions the way you are suggesting.

Even if parents mobilize and have ability to fundraise, the school may not be interested. Most privates know they can't be good at everything and make decisions to support their priorities and mission. A strong band just may not be something you school ever wants, because they already know they can't have strong academics and sports and whatever else they consider themselves best at. I'd still go take to the head of school, but I wouldn't assume this is a matter of enough pressure.

[Anonymous]

You can but they won't care. You can't have everything and you knew this going in. Not everything's a priority, at any school, and the kids have only so many hours in their day. Combining a lot of grade levels is logistically very hard.

And don't have a negative attitude towards Stevie Wonder, especially if you're a brass parent! Pop music can be just as nuanced and complex as classical.

[Anonymous]

Very few privates can rival a good public for music programs (they just don't have the numbers typically), unless they have a specialized program of some sort. I think this is the choice you make when choosing private. Have your kid do an independent orchestra program like MCYO.

[Anonymous]

A big public school will have a huge group of kids from which to pool talent. A small private school will have a handful of talented kids in the pool. Chances are they view music as a part of a well rounded curriculum and an extra curricular interest that most will pursue privately. They are not going to keep less skilled kids out of the music program in pursuit of unneeded awards. The education is the goal.

[Anonymous]

What could the head of school do? Change their admissions practices to recruit only highly talented musicians?

[Anonymous]

I think you need to recognize that most private schools too small to specialize in everything and are clear about what they specialize in and you chose a school that doesn’t fit. I don’t think asking the school to change because you chose badly is the solution.

[Anonymous]

This thread is so interesting! Do many schools in the DC area, public or private, actually teach kids to read music!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so interesting! Do many schools in the DC area, public or private, actually teach kids to read music!?

We're now at private but when my kids were in public they were tested on some basic note reading in general music. Emphasis on basic.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid who is very serious about music. I think you really can't expect any non-specialized school to be a musical home for a kid who is serious about music. You really need to look for a regional youth orchestra and a good private instructor, plus some good summer programs.

That said I do think it would be reasonable to suggest that you get students be able to test into advanced band/orchestra.

[Anonymous]

I think you are getting your answer here. Most academically competitive private schools have between 80-100 kids in a class to keep class sizes down. Public schools often have 300-400 (at least in the DMV). Kids who are serious musicians at a private school will be in outside orchestras and taking private lessons, but there won’t be a critical mass in any one school to make a really serious group. You will need to supplement either outside enrichment.

[Anonymous]

OP - At least your kid's school has a band. Ours doesn't even have that, but that's unfortunately understandable because a HS would have to both have a critical mass of students interested in continuing with band in HS and figure out a time in the schedule that most of them could attend. You can't have a band director teaching 4 classes a day of band with 20 kids in each class (unless the school is rolling in money). If your kid is a really good trombonist, and particularly if they are interested in playing in a regional orchestra, it should be sky's the limit at what they can do outside of school.