From celebrating diversity to encouraging active music listening, these ideas will help band and orchestra directors create a vibrant, immersive learning environment.
Think back to your school days. Chances are you can recall a teacher who made learning not just educational but genuinely enjoyable. Whether they found ways to make the subject relatable, approached teaching from a different perspective, or brought lessons to life with technology, games and hands-on experiments, they made learning fun and exciting.
For many of us, that teacher was our band or orchestra director.
Every teacher has the power to create a unique classroom culture for their students, and for band and orchestra directors, that means taking intentional steps to encourage curiosity and a passion for musical growth. By embracing diversity, setting a course for exploration and engaging students with the music they already love, you can cultivate a bandroom culture that will positively shape your students’ experiences.
Here are five steps to building a musical classroom culture, one day at a time.
Explore diversity in music
The world is filled with incredible music, yet most students have only experienced a small fraction of it. Make the band room a place where students can discover music from different cultures, time periods, traditions and genres, including classical, jazz, folk, world music and contemporary styles. Consider using part of your pre-rehearsal warm-up time to share music from specific regions or cultural groups, then facilitate a discussion about what the students are hearing. Learning about music from various cultures encourages students to appreciate and respect cultural differences, which promotes a more inclusive and respectful school environment.
While the typical band and orchestra director’s repertoire includes many tried-and-true pieces for a range of ensembles, from marching band to jazz band to orchestra, it’s important to mix things up. Select music, arrangements and instruments that reflect the diversity of your community.
Throughout the school year, take advantage of significant cultural events like Black History Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month for inspiration. By using music to explore diverse cultures and backgrounds, you can help students develop a deeper understanding of both their community and the wider world.
Incorporate music that kids care about
One of the best ways to get kids excited about band or orchestra is by incorporating music that they listen to themselves. When kids are excited about the music, your bandroom culture will thrive. Here are some ideas:
Survey Student Interests
It starts with understanding what music your students like. Ask them about their favorite genres, artists and songs. When kids are involved in the repertoire selection process, they’re more likely to get excited about what they’re playing.
Arrange Popular Music for the Ensemble
The Music & Arts online shop features an endless variety of sheet music, including contemporary pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop arranged for marching band, choir, concert band and more—as well as play-along books for band-and-orchestra instruments. Look for pieces that are musically challenging yet recognizable and accessible to students.
Create Mashups or Medleys
Many band directors combine elements of classical or traditional band/orchestra music with popular songs to create mashups or medleys. This can make familiar music feel fresh and exciting, and introduce students to the thrills of an inventive, well-crafted arrangement.
Incorporate Student Compositions
You might consider inviting more advanced students to compose or arrange music based on their favorite songs or styles, and then feature these compositions in performances. This offers students a chance to work collaboratively with the ensemble to realize their personal vision, giving them a greater sense of ownership.
Develop an appreciation for active listening
In today’s world, music is more accessible than ever—we all have instant access to millions of songs via streaming services and YouTube. But while the quantity of music we consume has skyrocketed, the quality of our listening experience often falls short. Many students primarily listen to music on their phones or mobile devices, and may have never heard their favorite music on a decent sound system. Teaching students about active listening can greatly enhance their enjoyment of music.
Active, intentional listening involves enjoying music in a focused, purposeful way, rather than passively hearing it in the background. This involves paying close attention to various elements of the music, such as melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, texture and lyrics, in order to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the piece.
Here are some ways that band and orchestra directors can help students develop an appreciation for active, intentional listening:
Get a high-quality listening system
Of course, to truly appreciate the music, you have to be able to hear it in detail. Every band room deserves to have a good sound system and at least one pair of audiophile-grade headphones. With a high-quality system including excellent speakers, it’ll be easier for students to recognize the different elements and understand the nuances they might miss when listening on basic devices.
For individual listening sessions, check out headphones from Audeze, Sennheiser, Focal and AKG on the Music & Arts online shop.
Hold guided listening sessions
Try scheduling regular guided listening sessions where students can focus their attention on specific pieces of music. During these sessions, play the music over the best sound system you can get your hands on, and direct their attention to particular elements, such as melody, harmony, rhythm or dynamics. Each week, invite a different student to play their favorite music for the class, and discuss as a group how the various elements contribute to the overall impact of the piece.
Critical listening assignments
Assign students specific listening tasks that require them to analyze and reflect on what they hear. These could include comparing different recordings of the same piece, identifying instruments or exploring how certain musical techniques are used.
Create anticipation for upcoming events
Setting clear expectations for what’s coming up in the year is a powerful way to keep students engaged and build a classroom culture that’s passionate about the music. At the beginning of each week, month, semester or even the entire school year, give students a preview of the events, performances, assignments and projects they can look forward to. This helps students see the big picture and creates a sense of anticipation and purpose.
When students know what to anticipate—whether it’s a performance, a collaborative project or a special event—they begin to see themselves as active participants in a shared journey. This sense of anticipation fosters a band-room culture where students are part of a dynamic, evolving program with clear goals and exciting milestones.
Take the music into the community
Community involvement is a powerful catalyst for developing a strong musical classroom culture, especially when the band’s activities extend beyond the school walls and into the wider community. By taking the band culture into the community—through performances at local events, concerts for parents and families, and intergenerational band programs—students gain a deeper sense of connection and purpose. These experiences allow them to see the impact their music can have on others.
Building a musical classroom culture isn’t a one-and-done thing—it’s a dynamic process that evolves. Once your classroom culture is firmly established, it takes on a life of its own—especially as the upper-level students start sharing the culture with the incoming class.