Is It Worth It?

This a question only you can answer for yourself. I asked several of my classes how many of them practiced at home individual at least 5 days a week for a minimum of 40 minutes. Not very many of them do. I would say about 20% of them. The fact is that we will not be rewarded as a band program until that number rises significantly. That is the great equalizer in the band world. I have heard all kinds of things like we don't have as much money as Band A or Band B or we don't have the same kind of schedule or we don't have as good of a band director (I had to slip that in.) but the truth is that we have all we need with us. How much does it cost to practice consistently and with purpose? Nothing, that is free.

In conclusion, when the commitment level rises so will the successes. There is no shortcut. Just do it. Everybody can help in this. Parents tell your children to practice. Students tell your friends to practice. Band directors tell your students to practice. I promise it will work. If everybody in our band program practiced 5 days a week for a minimum of 45 minutes, we wouldn't have any problems with being worried about our success.

Is it worth it? You bet! If I could do it for them, I would.