Joining Extra Curricular Music Groups

Let’s Make Some Noise

Kids start instruments for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes there’s a generational motivation in which kids choose an instrument that someone in their family plays that’s been an important part of their childhood. For others taking on a band instrument is a new adventure for the whole family. Still others might be influenced by a friend’s choice of instrument. But after 40 years as young music students ourselves and then eventually as music teachers, we’ve noticed the most common reason students take up an instrument is usually about social connection and finding a place to belong.

For students and families for whom band is a new experience, it’s important to be prepared. As exciting as the idea of joining the band is, the gratification is often delayed for years. Arriving at a place in their music instruction in which they are proficient takes hard work and practice. For that reason, it’s not uncommon in those first three or four years to see some kids drop out of a music program. Some students simply do not enjoy the learning process. Others might find new and different interests that align more with who they are. But for those that hold on and keep building their skills, the opportunities are vast.

There’s a Lid for Every Pot (or a Group for Every Musician)

There’s such a variety of music groups across the U.S. It’s worth your time to look a bit more closely at the many opportunities available to musicians.

Most of the extra curricular musical groups students can join will materialize in High School, roughly four to six years after a student has started their musical journey.

Larger public schools will generally have more varied opportunities than smaller private schools. That doesn’t mean however, that opportunities are only available to city dwellers. Many rural areas have large schools serving a wide area.

Some of the extra curricular musical groups students may find offered in their area include:

• Musical Pit Orchestra
• Jazz Band
• Mariachi Band
• Marching Band
• Pep Band / Spirit Band
• Small Ensemble Groups (e.g., Sax Quartet, Flute Choir, Brass Quintet, Woodwind Quintet)
• Honor Bands
• All-State Bands
• Solo & Ensemble Contests
• Battle of the Bands or Talent Show

While in some instances a few these kinds of extra curricular groups might actually be offered as a class through a school curriculum (Jazz Band or Mariachi), usually they are extra curricular and outside of school hours. Often, they are run by either faculty or a hired outside director. Typically, they don’t meet year round, but instead occupy one or two seasons, like a sport.

In some cases these groups accept new members by audition only, or spots are reserved for upperclassmen only.

You can usually find out about the many opportunities available at your high school by attending the Freshmen (or 1st Year Students) Orientation night, held before the school year begins or sometime shortly thereafter. These extra curricular groups will be actively seeking new members and may have a table at these kinds of events.

Behind the Curtain: Musical Pit Orchestra

We dove into what it’s like to be a part of the Musical Pit Orchestra in a previous post that we encourage you to explore, so there’s no need to go too deep down the rabbit hole here. Suffice it to say Pit Orchestra is one of our favorite seasonal extra curricular groups. It’s in the pit that the band students get to meet up with orchestra students, choir students, theater students, and some of the more solitary musicians like pianists or guitarists. The High School Musical is the Big Tent production for all musician types in the school and is highly enjoyable to be a participant with so many other talented, creative types.

Swing Shift: Jazz Band

Jazz Bands usually single out very specific instrumentation for their ensemble. This is not a place you’ll find clarinets, flutes, oboes, or bassoons. However, it is a good opportunity for those students to flex other musical ambitions like offering to play piano, guitar, or bass guitar if they have that in their background.

Alternatively, woodwind students may wish to embark on a new musical journey as a doubler! Woodwind doublers will most often take on an alto or tenor saxophone, and sometimes even the bari! The best part of being a woodwind doubler in this group is that if there’s a part for a flute or clarinet in the music, the jazz band already has someone on board who can play the part proficiently.

Young Musicians, Timeless Tradition: Mariachi Band

Very much like the Jazz Band, the Mariachi Band is also strict in its limited instrumentation of guitars, violin, trumpet, and vocalists. In January 2024 I had the opportunity to meet the band director at Canyon Springs High School in North Las Vegas. At that school, Mariachi is offered as a class, but the student bands that form perform regularly outside of school in parks or at family and community events.

Step Right Up: Marching Band & Pep/Spirit Band

Marching Band and Pep/Spirit Bands are the groups that play at sporting events. In the case of a Marching Band, they also perform in parades or compete in corp style marching events against other marching bands.

Marching Bands typically begin rehearsing over the summer months to prepare for the first Football game of the season, which may be before or on the first day of school. These are the groups that finally get to play the popular music that students have been wanting to play since their very first year of music lessons. And while you might be able to get a hold of a beginner music book for your instrument to play Roar by Katy Perry or Believer by Imagine Dragons, those arrangements never sound good. They’re also unsatisfying to play because that kind of music wasn’t written for a solo band instrument. But arrange those songs for the marching band, and it’s a BANGER! It’s oftentimes the reason those socially motivated students joined the band in the first place.

All Together Now: Small Ensemble Groups, Honor Bands, All-State Bands, and Solo & Ensemble Contests

Small Ensemble Groups, Honor Bands, All-State Bands, and Solo & Ensemble Contests all put students in front of adjudicators or provide audition opportunities to participate in these groups. When it’s an audition-based opportunity like this, the process to gain admission can be stressful, but acceptance is that much more special. These groups and contests are fantastic recognition for all the work students have done to reach this level. They’re also amazing preparation for students who want to seek out scholarships or get into music programs post high school.

Star Power: Battle of the Bands or Talent Show

If your school has a Battle of the Bands or Talent Show, it often takes place around Homecoming or other school celebrations like Spirit Week, Snow Days, or Spring Fling. Interestingly enough, it’s not where you’ll typically find most of your band class peers.

There are many musically talented students in your school who have their own thing. From rappers to garage bands, pianists to digital music creators, there are many other potential musical friends to make!

It’s Never Too Late

There are always going to be a few students who quit band after the first year or two. Some of them regret the decision when they see how much fun their friends are having in Marching and Pep/Spirit Band. They may even decide they want to return to band. While that can be difficult, it’s not impossible if they are willing to do the work to “catch up.”

At A Kopp Music, we love working with these students. It can be intense, but these students will be able to participate and continue to grow the necessary skills to make a decent grade in band class.

If you’re one of those students, remember, it doesn’t have to be forever. It’s never too late to get back on board with band.

If you quit band and are having second thoughts, feel free to contact us. We’re happy to talk things through with you, offer tips and advice on next steps.