Band Changes Lives!

Help Us Continue to Play Strong

OUR CASE FOR SUPPORT

Help us improve the lives and futures of young people through music.

The support of donors is vital to making the Roswell High School Band program successful. Thousands of students have participated in the Roswell Band program, expanding their understanding of the world through music and opening opportunities for their futures. The Roswell High School Band program fosters musical, emotional, and intellectual growth in a space that is safe, inclusive, and promotes the highest level of excellence.

Our goal is to instill musical excellence in students, increase school spirit through performances, and foster a sense of community through the performance of music.

Preparing students for success in a rapidly changing world is the primary focus of the school. We strive to promote and maximize student achievement by providing an enhanced sense of belonging, pride, and loyalty to Roswell High School.

Fulton County Schools (FCS) and Roswell High School (RHS) provide only 15% of all needed funds. That is not enough to reach our goals. Every year the music program faces a significant gap in funding. We need your support to build our music program and have the most impact on our students and our community. 

The Roswell High School Band Program is supported by the Roswell High School Band Boosters Association, a not-for-profit organization comprising the parents of music students who volunteer their time and effort to make the high school music program successful. A large part of their efforts are directed to raising the funds necessary to cover the expenses not paid by FCS – the great majority of the money needed for the program. 

THE TRUE COST OF EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT IN THE

FINE ARTS IS QUITE HIGH

No student is turned away from the Roswell High School Band program for lack of ability to pay fees. However, financial shortfalls result directly in the reduction of current and future services provided to our students, and ultimately result in higher future fees or the termination of important program activities.

Typical Annual Costs for Roswell High School Band

With FCS and RHS providing only a small fraction of the required funding, donors can play a major role in shaping the music program. Donors make it possible for the Roswell High School Band program to enrich the student experience in these ways:

o   Financial aid for students whose families cannot pay band fees

o   Additional staff and instructors beyond the minimum provided by the school system

o   First aid and safety support

o   Uniforms

o   Marching Band operations

o   Indoor Drumline program

o   Winter Guard program

o   Band camp

o   Student recognition

o   Purchasing and repairing musical instruments

o   Student transportation

o   New sheet music

WHAT CAN WE DO WITH YOUR SUPPORT?

Your generous donation will have a direct impact on the experience of students in our music program. These are just some of the ways your generosity can make a difference:

• More students in all band classes will be able to play instruments that are well maintained and in good repair.
• Students who are unable to pay band fees will be able to participate fully, with no restriction on their ability to enjoy the experience. 
• All students will have access to a robust music library which will further encourage their study of music.
• Marching band students will be supported with the most effective and appropriate safety equipment, transportation, and logistics, allowing them to focus on creating a top-notch performance.
• Students in all classes will have instructors who specialize in their particular instrument or areas of expertise, with time to provide individual support and education.
• Band students will be able to participate in competitions for marching band, indoor drumline, winter guard, concert, and symphonic bands, as well as individual assessments that may yield college scholarships.

MUSIC MATTERS. IT IMPROVES A YOUNG PERSON’S LIFE.

• Research has shown that music education improves academic achievement, builds communication skills, fosters creativity, develops teamwork and increases engagement in school.

• The College Entrance Examination Board reports that students who studied music performance and music appreciation scored higher on the SAT than students with no arts participation. Students in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal and 41 points higher on the math, and students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on the math. 

• Musicians have structurally and functionally different brains compared with non-musicians, according to the Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute. In particular, the areas of the brain used to process music are larger or more active in musicians. 

• Students who report consistent, high-level involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school years show significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12, according to Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning.

• Students in high-quality school music programs also score higher on standardized tests compared to students in schools with deficient music education programs, regardless of the socioeconomic level of the school or school district, according to a study in the Journal of Research in Music Education.

• Research from Northwestern University indicates that playing an instrument helps youngsters better process speech in noisy classrooms and more accurately interpret the nuances of language that are conveyed by subtle changes in the human voice. 

• A correlation exists between the amount of music training and the amount of improvement in reading fluency in children. Music activities engage both the left and right hemisphere of the brain. In fact, studying music involves more right- and left-brain functions than any other activity measured, according to Good Music, Brighter Children.

These facts were provided by the Phoenix Symphony. For more information on the importance of music education, download The Benefits of the Study of Music.

OUR STUDENTS TELL YOU WHY THE BAND PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT

I definitely would not be the person I am today without band. The band program helped me come out of my shell, especially when I became the flute section leader. Band has been a constant all throughout my high school days, which has given me a sense of security and comfort during times when everything else was changing. Moreover, it’s not just marching band and band class that has helped me; joining guard during the winter seasons allowed me to meet new types of people and gain more confidence in myself. I am extremely grateful for the band program and all the experiences I got from it. 

Lilly, Class of 2020

For me band was the first time I had ever felt passionate about something. I had many things that I enjoyed before, but I had never done something that I truly felt passionate about. It also helped me get plenty of new friends. Band also helped me learn time management skills and how to work harder.

Daniel, Class of 2022

I have been participating in the band program since I was a freshman, and I have gained so much from it! When I first entered high school, I was very timid and shy. I had trouble talking to people and being myself, especially at school. And then I joined the drumline. My band directors and fellow percussionists helped me break out of my shell; teaching me not only to play amazing music, but also to laugh a little louder and stand a little taller. They have become some of my closest friends and confidants. Now, I look forward to band class every day and all of our rehearsals. Being in this program has deepened my passion for music and helped me step into a stronger version of myself. I am so grateful to be a part of the RHS band program and all of the incredible things it provides for its students. 

Leah, Class of 2021

I can honestly say that without band I would have never gotten through high school. I admit, however, that I was a little skeptical of continuing band in high school, having to juggle school work and extracurricular activities. But now as a senior, I can say with confidence that sticking with it was probably the best decision I ever made in my high school career. Not only did I find an encouraging, supportive niche within the band, but I also discovered gifts I never knew I had, as well as learned lessons I may not have learned elsewhere. There is no doubt in my mind that I am the person I am today, in large part, due to my experiences in band.

Justin, Class of 2020

OUR PARENTS TELL YOU WHY THEY SUPPORT THE ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL BAND

There are not enough words to express how the Roswell High School Band program has helped my child. Our son suffers from anxiety which can be extreme at times. From the moment he started the program as an incoming freshman at band camp his world changed. The camaraderie, support and engagement were immediately apparent and helped him transition into this new phase of his life with little issue. Band has given him a sense of normalcy and inclusion that he has literally never experienced before.

 Former RHS Band Parent

The Roswell High School Band program provides my son and so many other students with an opportunity to explore their musical interests while also teaching them the value of discipline, hard work, cooperation, and support of one another. The benefits go far beyond music and have helped my son become a better, stronger young man. I’m confident his experience in the band program will help in many ways as he moves beyond high school.

Gregory Freeman

Volunteering is all about the kids. I want to continue this great tradition of Roswell Band while leaving fingerprints on the hearts of the kids that will last a lifetime. My goal is to help Roswell Band provide a long-lasting impact to the kids, like it did for me from many years ago when I graduated from RHS back in 1991.

Michael Dal Cerro

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