You make a strong argument. Much of it is the same argument we made when NAMM was lobbying the ESEA (I was on the team for 7 years). Kids with early elementary arts and music instruction do better as a group. A lot better, and they keep getting better as they age. Eventually, and in conjunction with partners ranging from The Grammy's, VH1 and the NEA to grassroots arts coalitions we were able to have language inserted into Title 3 defining Arts and Music as 'core curriculum', which seems arcane, but forces schools to offer instruction.
And of course 5th grade is the perfect time for Band. For one thing, the boys have caught up to the girls with fine motor skills. But, having spent 42 years running music stores with piano instruction, and having been to hundreds of recitals, and having run a regional piano competition for 20 years, I have a few additional thoughts.
If you would like to see a thriving 5th grade band program, have a 3rd grade, required, piano program. Not strings, not recorder....piano. (keyboard) Here's why. It is reasonable to assume that when a human hears a pleasant sound, they are more likely to want to pursue it. Conversely, an unpleasant sound will be avoided.
It is not reasonable to expect a 4 to 10 year old to produce a pleasant sound on a cheap violin with a cheap bow; as anyone who has ever endured an elementary string recital can attest. But everyone can produce a pleasant sound on a piano the first time they touch a key. Further, musical tones are linear, from low to high. a piano keyboard or a guitar fretboard are also linear, so it is more understandable for kids than some abstract set of combinations of finger movements. Especially when it comes time to read music. And of course, singing in any form must be encouraged from a very early age.
We can look east to our friends in China, Korea and Japan for confirmation. Basically almost every kid plays piano from age 5, and has for generations. We can track their academic accomplishments in STEAM related subjects, or we can look at YouTube video of their middle school bands to see the results.
So YES....5th Grade band for every kid who wants to play. But there is an opportunity for girls starting at age 5 and some boys at 7, that can lead to bigger and better bands.
Finally, people are more likely to play a piano or guitar all their lives than a horn, our best efforts notwithstanding, so it only seems fair to give them this skill set early.
The Junior High I went to in CT made it so that if you participated in band, orchestra, or chorus you did not have to take general music - a class that I have many feelings on but won't go into here. Needless to say, our performing ensembles were full and we learned music by playing music together.
Love this, Russ! I played trombone in 5th grade band, exactly 50 years ago! I was not musically talented by any stretch, having been rejected by the 3rd grade chorus after a bad audition and dropping the flute in 4th grade because I didn’t have the ‘lip’ for the instrument. That could have been the end of music for me but luckily our school needed a trombone player. I started lessons in 4th grade, joined the band in 5th and played all thru high school in concert band, jazz band, and marching band.
Band opened my eyes and ears to a whole new world and provided this socially awkward and introverted kid a way to make friends and interact in a comfortable setting. I earned good grades in band which had the added benefit of increasing my overall GPA. Band also made me curious about other instruments and in 9th grade I taught myself to play saxophone, my instrument today. Would I do it all again? Hell yes, and playing in a New Horizons band I feel like I am!
I wholeheartedly agree. I played trombone in 5th grade band, and I was terrible. I could not read music, which made it difficult. BUT, but, I still remember the fun of being with my friends, the excitement of performing on stage for the community, and to this day I wish I’d stuck with it.
Both of my boys did 5th grade band. One quit the next year, and one stayed with it through high school and still plays when time permits as an adult. Every kid should have that opportunity to try something they might otherwise not be exposed to.
Yet again Russ, playing out your passion (pun unintended) via PMAC plays out deeper than you know. It was our own experiences with PMAC that led to us getting a uke and a keyboard for our then 5 and 7 yr old grandsons. Both have taken piano lessons for 4 yrs now, happy to show us their latest lessons with grandpa sitting on the piano bench beside each one, reading along with their music--which he could never have done before learning how at age 53 in PMAC's very first New Horizons band! Our 11 yr old just started middle school--and trombone. The 9 yr old is probably envious. Please understand these boys are athletes through and through, playing sports is their go-to activity and skill. But right alongside that, without any special talent, they are fully engaged in continuing to play and learn music. We are deeply grateful. Without the gift of PMAC in our own lives the past 20 years, I wonder if we'd have ever passed along to those boys the enjoyment and importance of playing music.
You make a strong argument. Much of it is the same argument we made when NAMM was lobbying the ESEA (I was on the team for 7 years). Kids with early elementary arts and music instruction do better as a group. A lot better, and they keep getting better as they age. Eventually, and in conjunction with partners ranging from The Grammy's, VH1 and the NEA to grassroots arts coalitions we were able to have language inserted into Title 3 defining Arts and Music as 'core curriculum', which seems arcane, but forces schools to offer instruction.
And of course 5th grade is the perfect time for Band. For one thing, the boys have caught up to the girls with fine motor skills. But, having spent 42 years running music stores with piano instruction, and having been to hundreds of recitals, and having run a regional piano competition for 20 years, I have a few additional thoughts.
If you would like to see a thriving 5th grade band program, have a 3rd grade, required, piano program. Not strings, not recorder....piano. (keyboard) Here's why. It is reasonable to assume that when a human hears a pleasant sound, they are more likely to want to pursue it. Conversely, an unpleasant sound will be avoided.
It is not reasonable to expect a 4 to 10 year old to produce a pleasant sound on a cheap violin with a cheap bow; as anyone who has ever endured an elementary string recital can attest. But everyone can produce a pleasant sound on a piano the first time they touch a key. Further, musical tones are linear, from low to high. a piano keyboard or a guitar fretboard are also linear, so it is more understandable for kids than some abstract set of combinations of finger movements. Especially when it comes time to read music. And of course, singing in any form must be encouraged from a very early age.
We can look east to our friends in China, Korea and Japan for confirmation. Basically almost every kid plays piano from age 5, and has for generations. We can track their academic accomplishments in STEAM related subjects, or we can look at YouTube video of their middle school bands to see the results.
So YES....5th Grade band for every kid who wants to play. But there is an opportunity for girls starting at age 5 and some boys at 7, that can lead to bigger and better bands.
Finally, people are more likely to play a piano or guitar all their lives than a horn, our best efforts notwithstanding, so it only seems fair to give them this skill set early.
The Junior High I went to in CT made it so that if you participated in band, orchestra, or chorus you did not have to take general music - a class that I have many feelings on but won't go into here. Needless to say, our performing ensembles were full and we learned music by playing music together.
I totally agree, and Warren taught me several instruments over the years-Bill
Love this, Russ! I played trombone in 5th grade band, exactly 50 years ago! I was not musically talented by any stretch, having been rejected by the 3rd grade chorus after a bad audition and dropping the flute in 4th grade because I didn’t have the ‘lip’ for the instrument. That could have been the end of music for me but luckily our school needed a trombone player. I started lessons in 4th grade, joined the band in 5th and played all thru high school in concert band, jazz band, and marching band.
Band opened my eyes and ears to a whole new world and provided this socially awkward and introverted kid a way to make friends and interact in a comfortable setting. I earned good grades in band which had the added benefit of increasing my overall GPA. Band also made me curious about other instruments and in 9th grade I taught myself to play saxophone, my instrument today. Would I do it all again? Hell yes, and playing in a New Horizons band I feel like I am!
I wholeheartedly agree. I played trombone in 5th grade band, and I was terrible. I could not read music, which made it difficult. BUT, but, I still remember the fun of being with my friends, the excitement of performing on stage for the community, and to this day I wish I’d stuck with it.
Both of my boys did 5th grade band. One quit the next year, and one stayed with it through high school and still plays when time permits as an adult. Every kid should have that opportunity to try something they might otherwise not be exposed to.
Yet again Russ, playing out your passion (pun unintended) via PMAC plays out deeper than you know. It was our own experiences with PMAC that led to us getting a uke and a keyboard for our then 5 and 7 yr old grandsons. Both have taken piano lessons for 4 yrs now, happy to show us their latest lessons with grandpa sitting on the piano bench beside each one, reading along with their music--which he could never have done before learning how at age 53 in PMAC's very first New Horizons band! Our 11 yr old just started middle school--and trombone. The 9 yr old is probably envious. Please understand these boys are athletes through and through, playing sports is their go-to activity and skill. But right alongside that, without any special talent, they are fully engaged in continuing to play and learn music. We are deeply grateful. Without the gift of PMAC in our own lives the past 20 years, I wonder if we'd have ever passed along to those boys the enjoyment and importance of playing music.
100% yes!