Make more music makers.  That's our plan. 

Make each beginner a rock star by designing a Sign Up for Band / Choir / Orchestra / Guitar / Mariachi RETENTION TIPS (FOR BEGINNING STUDENTS) Did you know that up to 60% of students quit after their first them into the loop to help students complete a successful first year so that they continue for many more Encourage them to take the 15-minute New Music Parent Course made available by NFHS (National Federation

The more we empower our students, the more power they bring to the program! Happy Teaching!

something that did not go as well as hoped, determine why and what could have been done to make it more Determine the size of next year’s starting class and set some preliminary instrumentation goals for next It is also important to take a hard look at why students may have quit this year — call to speak with Finally, have a conversation with your school music dealer to talk about this year’s efforts and to start Educational Member, Music Achievement Council, NAMM Host, Band Talk with Charlie Menghini and Friends More

RECRUITMENT TIPS Make your beginning music recruitment events more Instagram worthy! Start by giving the event itself a more hyped-up name or connective theme. between the last day of class and the first day of instruction, be it band / orchestra camp or the start The more you can get done at the end of the school year, the more you can enjoy your summer break! You won’t need to start from scratch!

SUCCESS TIPS Start planning what music you want to perform with your groups in the spring now. Thinking in advance about concert programming doesn’t only provide you more time to get acquainted with the scores — this foresight allows you more time to order any mutes or percussion equipment that you It also allows more time to think of and create any supplemental materials that could help you teach home with students over vacation in the event they want to pick up their instruments and get a jump start

Since it’s a march, all the “conductor” needs to do is drop their hand to get things started. Before we know it, the school year will be over and we'll be starting a new one.

RECRUITMENT TIPS As you recruit students for the start of the year, the aspect of personal communication Educational Member, Music Achievement Council, NAMM Host, Band Talk with Charlie Menghini and Friends More

If you haven't yet, start building out your calendar with concerts, contests, and other important dates

The leaders should come up with their own ideas but here are a couple to get you started.

This month's MSFQ tips come from Yamaha Master Educator and director of bands at Hill Country Middle School Cheryl Floyd. MANAGING EXPECTATIONS If we’ve learned anything during this pandemic, it's the importance of managing our expectations. Teachers and students are getting sick with COVID, the flu, and all other types of respiratory illnesses. This year, many of the music directors I spend time with have thankfully chosen music that allows their students to be expressive rather than impressive. Instead of attempting to win the “most notes played at contest award”, directors are remembering how much their students have missed fundamentally and they're adjusting their expectations. RECRUITING TIPS Remember those FlipGrid assignments your students made last year? It’s time to look through those and see which ones you can use for recruiting new students. Consider asking your students to make new videos that share their favorite things about music and being in your program. Here are some good starter questions: Why did you select your instrument? What's your favorite piece of music to play? What do you like about your instrument? What your favorite part about being in music? Also, invite the directors in the schools your students feed into to visit and introduce themselves. Making these connections early will help students feel welcomed and a part of their new school community early on. SUCCESS TIPS As the director, your own morale and happiness are an important part of your program's success. The past two years have been difficult in so many ways, and music education has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. It's okay to feel tired or overwhelmed or defeated at times. Give yourself a break. Focus on your own mental health. Consider finding a mentor or colleagues near you that you can lean on or that you can help support. We're all in this together. Brian Balmages shared a great message recently: "You are not defined by the grade level music you play with your ensemble." It's so true and such a great reminder. Your students won't remember the grade level music you played, but they will remember the positive impact you had on them. Lastly, I read this message from a financial planner recently: One of the most stressful aspects of investing can be the emotional load we experience during volatile times. Research has shown that the most successful long-term investors remain patient during market swings. That feels incredibly true about our profession, doesn't it? If we swap a few words, it's a great reminder about the importance of patience as an educator: One of the most stressful aspects of teaching can be the emotional load we experience during volatile times. Research has shown that the most successful long-term educators remain patient during these uncertain times. You are doing a tremendous job — and your students are proof. :) I'm wishing you and your students all the best this semester! Sincerely, Cheryl Floyd Hill Country Middle School Director of Bands, retired Yamaha Master Educator Music Consultant Leander ISD Flute Instructor

Get permission to include their quote (and a picture, if possible) in an upcoming letter to future students Parents will love seeing their child and students will enjoy feeling like a movie star.

Start each rehearsal by allowing your students to share any good news they have with the rest of the connected to each other and that you care about what is going on in other aspects of their lives, they are more Start each class session with band (concert or jazz) or string (orchestral) music playing when students our Ed Services team today These retention tips are written by various authors and are compiled from "More to Start, Fewer to Quit" a recruitment, retention, and success newsletter brought to you by The Music