Funding Music

Ideally, every student would grow up in a school district with the resources to fund all every program conceivable. But unfortunately, in today's depressed economy, when companies and schools are constantly cutting costs, music programs, along with other arts and athletics, are the first on the chopping block. Those music departments lucky enough to remain in operation have severely reduced budgets, and struggle to maintain their decades-old programs upon which people have come to rely.

Assuming there is interest to maintain the four band, orchestra, jazz, and chorus ensembles, teachers are faced with the choice of cutting programming or activities, or recycling repertoire. In this case, it may be necessary to raise funds from parents and from the community at large. While administrators may shy away from asking parents for their hard-earned cash, it may be the only way for a music program to survive in its current role, the role to which everyone has become accustomed.

While parents may be resistant at first, fundraising could be a great way to get the entire family involved and invested (emotionally, as well as financially) in your programs. When parents come back inside the school organization they can bring new life to a program. They can provide new ideas, and bring new light to old programs. And when they see their ideas come to fruition, in whatever form, they own a part of that program. And come next budget season, when the Board of Education is looking for cuts, the music department has a new cheering section.