"I can’t be in a band because I do not have enough money to buy an instrument” is the most common excuse I hear when I ask someone why they decided not to take a band class if they really wanted to. This problem simply stems from people just not knowing the full information on what you actually have to have to be in band, so I am here today to clear up some of the misconceptions you may have (as a parent or maybe an upcoming middle schooler) about the true monetary cost of being in a band.
Okay, so the price of admission to band is actually free or very little. Well, the reason is this problem isn’t a recent one. Your school system knows how expensive a beginner instrument can be. Schools are very aware that bigger instruments, like tubas and baritones, are extremely pricey and that parents are not willing to spend hundreds of dollars on an instrument that their child may break or may decide to give up playing. "How do they have a band then if the parents do not have to buy the instruments?" Well, they can have a band because many schools allocate money specifically to the fine arts programs to buy school instruments so that middle schools, high schools, and even colleges can have their very own band program -- which is very important.
That is not to say, though, that those school instruments don’t "run out". For instance, they have 10 people who want to play trumpet, but the school only has five school horns. In that situation, there is another way the school helps, so you or your child can be in the band. The first thing they may do is ask your child or you to try one of the other instruments available. Perhaps you or your child will take a liking to one of the other available instruments. The school could also have someone from a company come in and set up a rental service for the specific horn you want to play. Now this second way does actually cost you money, but it is much cheaper than having to buy a horn. Another thing to take into consideration is that if you want to play a reed instrument, then most of the time directors will not keep giving you free reeds when you break them, so make sure you take care not to break or chip them.
My advice to anyone who wants to be in band and has questions about the cost, just go talk to the band director. Trust me, if you really want to be there, they will find a way to get you there. If you are in band, though, make sure you at least attempt the fundraisers, so that the band and school system can continue to help other students who really want to be there.
