Why Join Middle School Band
There are many compelling reasons for a student to join Band. Here are a few:
- Emotional: Music provides a creative outlet and a break from the routine and rigor of the traditional school day. Students in music are among the highest academic performers and still report less stress and tension than their non-musical counterparts.
- Social: Participating in musical groups promotes self-confidence, teamwork, social skills, social networking, a sense of belonging, self-discipline, a sense of accomplishment, cooperation, responsibility, commitment, mutual support, and enduring friendships.
- Academic: Research has found that learning music facilitates learning other subjects and enhances skills that children inevitably use in other areas including language development, spatial-temporal skills, pattern recognition, critical thinking, and so much more.
- Personal: Through music, students become better people, as they develop self-discipline, confidence, commitment, responsibility, good decision making, and personal pride. They are able to do this with the support of peers in a safe and risk-free environment.
Music helps to ensure lifelong success. Did you know that:
- A 2000 Gallup Poll indicated that 92% of people who play an instrument say they were glad they learned to do so.
- Students who participate in music have the lowest levels of current and lifelong use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs among any group in our society (H. Con. Res 266, U.S. Senate, June 2000).
- Admissions officers at 70% of the nation's major universities have stated that high school credit and achievement in the Arts are significant considerations for admission to their institutions.
- The College Entrance Examination Board found that students involved in public school music programs scored 107 points higher on the SAT.
- Lewis Thomas, physician and biologist, found that music majors comprise the highest percentage (66%) of accepted medical students.