Are you starting substantial numbers of students, then having them move away? Are you recruiting promising tuba, oboe, or French horn players, but finding few of them still around in the eighth grade? If you’re serving a mobile population, there may be things you need to do to produce bands that play well, and also maintain your emotional equilibrium and sense of humor.
Focus Your Efforts
While a bigger band may be one of your goals, think which specific add-on instruments would make the biggest impact in your ensemble sound, then concentrate on finding students to fill those spots. If two more trombones or a couple of French horns and a tuba would make the greatest difference, sell prospective players on the idea of playing those instruments and let them know that you have those horns available, waiting for someone to play them.
