I played piano from age 4 until 6th grade. I played the flute in the school band in 6th and 7th grade. I played nothing in 8th grade. In high school, I found out that there was a class called "Independent Study - Whatever" and I asked the music teacher if I could do piano. She knew my former teacher and agreed. In 10th grade I continued with Independent Study - Piano and added playing for the orchestra. I continued that through graduation. I ended up minoring in Performance in college and made all my money for the year playing private parties and country clubs from Thanksgiving - Christmas.

Thanks everyone. The opportunities for a pianist at school were very limited when I was a kid too. Just wondering if things had changed. I think I will encourage her to pick a second instrument that can play in band or orchestra. Most of the kids in our neighborhood are into sports and she is really into music. I would really like for her to have a chance to feel like a part of a group even though she's not into sports.

My kid does theater, not music.

Depending on the quality of your kid's school's theater program amd the skill level of your daughter, the theater program might welcome a live pianist for rehearsals, especially if they use an orchestra for performances.

If your school theater program uses taped tracks, it is still worth asking as they might welcome to chsnce to upgrade to live music.

MCPS has a honors chorus that has try-outs for piano accompaniment, but that's not really at the school.

My child has also played piano since 1st grade, but she started with violin also in 4th grade. Since she reads music and knows about tempo, etc., already, it's a lot easier. She practices piano a lot more than violin. We consider piano her primary instrument and the violin is just for the benefit of playing with a group, but if she ends up liking violin more that could change.

I think you need to contact the middle school and high school your child will be attending and find out. And then you need to find out from your child what she wants to do.

I played piano throughout childhood and teens but did violin and later chorus at school. We did occasionally have a student pianist accompany the chamber orchestra but it was not a regular part of the school music program. If a student wants regular involvement in school band/orchestra it's better to pick a different instrument.

Well, my piano player just doesn't play at school. He takes chorus and I believe that many kids in there play piano and he sometimes plays in the practice room of his school or otherwise. He is with musical peers. So, I think if your kid is into music, they can pick a new instrument or do chorus to stay with musical kids -- that has been truly what my kid wants.

But as far as playing, not really. I think the high school has a "class" that advanced piano players can take to sit in a room and practice alone or with supervision, but my kid likes to be with other musical kids and would never do this.

If your kid is supertalented, some chorus' need students to accompany their singers.

My 6th grader just joined the jazz band and they absolutely have a piano player. Also a sixth grader. In his elementary school they had a fifth grader play piano for some of the chorus songs. So yes, definitely opportunities.

Our middle school has orchestra (strings) and band (brass, wind, and percussion). No opportunities for piano playing. I think lots of kids with piano experience choose another instrument in order to do one of those classes.

OP, sorry I can't answer your exact question, but thought I'd mention this ~ since the look of success can vary.DD had played piano for 7 years, very seriously, before reaching middle school. She signed up for Beginning Band and chose the trumpet ... very randomly. Since she was well educated in music and disciplined, she was promoted from Beginning Band all the way up to Symphonic Band by the end of one school year (skipping 2 band levels) Your DD's commitment to music is the most important issue. Good luck.

There's more to life than school.

My DD has played the piano for many years. But as she's getting older and getting closer to middle school, I wonder if we should stick with it, or encourage her to think about playing another instrument that she can do as part of a school activity. I'm hoping she can make friends with similar musical interests and play in groups. Is the piano something that you can play as part of a public school activity? Do they need student pianists for jazz ensembles or choir accompanists?