Attrition nightmare…. :-(
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nafmeadmin.
nafmeadminHello…this is a sad day. Today I asked my current 8th grade band of 19 how many were moving on to 9th grade and it looks like I am losing almost all of the band except for about 5-8 kids. Now they were a small group to begin with…several moved before the end of 7th grade, a few quit at the semester of the year stating band wasn’t for them, and I am losing 2 more to military obligations before next year. But I am shocked that 3 out of 4 of my clarinet players are not going to continue nor a few of my flutes. I have sent a letter home to parents with my concerns, but how can I justify a band of 8 kids? I have no idea why. I feel like I am an upbeat teacher, I structure my band class so that we work on technique and music both…they do have to do some worksheets like recognizing key signatures or writing the beat counts under the rhythm of the day but nothing more. I feel like I pick really fun music and try to make it challenging for them. I am crying…I feel like there is something I have done horribly wrong, but haven’t seen or heard any negative comments or concerns from the students to indicate anything. I am careful to be fair in my dicipline and have very rarely any need to write anyone up because they are so well behaved. The majority of my students continue on into high school with huge success. They are totally prepared and ready. Any ideas?
Sad Bandgoddess 🙁
nafmeadminI’m assuming you are in a K-12 building. Do the kids have too many choices in HS for electives? Is it a scheduling problem? I think you should sit down with your principal and ask for his support (are the guidance counselors helping in scheduling)? Could you offer a band trip to the HS kids only (something for them to look forward to? Best of luck!
Christopher M. Johnson, Professor of Music Education and Music Therapy, is currently the Chair of the Music Education and Music Therapy Department and Director of the Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas. Johnson earned his Ph.D. from the Florida State University.
Since his arrival at The University of Kansas, Johnson has taught courses in Instrumental Conducting, Teaching Instrumental Music, Managing Behaviors in the Music Environment, Psychology and Acoustics of Music, and Research Methods in Music Education and Music Therapy. Johnson served two terms as the editor of the International Journal of Music Education: Research, the research publication of the International Society for Music Education. He is currently serving his second term on the National Association for Music Educations Executive Committee of the Society for Research in Music Education. He also served on the editorial board of the Journal of Research in Music Education, and one earlier term as the Chair for the MENC Executive Committee of the Society for Research in Music Education. Johnson also served as the Chair for the Research Commission of the International Society for Music Education.
Johnson’s research interests include applied research in music education, and basic research in all aspects of the psychology of music. He has published articles in many journals including the Journal of Research in Music Education, the International Journal of Music Education, the Journal of Music Therapy, Journal of Band Research, Contributions to Music Education, and the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, among others. Johnson has also been an active member and contributor to the Research Seminar of the International Society for Music Education and World Alliance for Arts Education.
Johnson received a university teaching award – the Ned N. Fleming Award for Excellence in Teaching and received the recognition for Graduate Teaching Achievement from the Center for Teaching Excellence. Johnson was also awarded a lecturing & research award as a J. William Fulbright Scholar and recently received the Ella Scoble Opperman Citation for Distinguished Achievement from the Florida State University College of Music.
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