It’s a cold weekday morning. You step into the crime scene you’ve been called to and take in your surroundings. Students are mindlessly scrolling on their phones, chairs are empty, and instruments are coated with a layer of dust.
“There’s been a murder!”
Only one student looks up from their phone…
The evidence is staggering; this music program is DEAD.
…
This frightening scene is not uncommon. Studies show that about 50% of students drop out of music lessons and other musical activities by age 17. So what can teachers do to bring a music program back to life? It’s time to put on our detective hats as we take a closer look at what kills a program and what can be done to bring it back to life.
What Does a Dead Music Program Look Like?
Let’s do a quick autopsy of a dead music program to get an idea of how we ended up here in the first place.
- Students seem disengaged or distracted.
Phones stay out, eyes drift, and enthusiasm fades. Music starts to feel like just another class instead of something to look forward to. - Recruitment numbers drop each year.
Fewer beginners sign up, and returning students trickle away. Without new energy coming in, the program slowly shrinks. - Concert attendance is dwindling.
Parents, peers, and administrators stop showing up, and that loss of audience energy seeps into student motivation. - Administrative support weakens.
You find yourself constantly justifying your schedule, space, or funding, fighting to prove that music education still belongs. - Morale is low for everyone.
Lessons feel like pulling teeth, students are less responsive, and even the teacher’s spark starts to dim.
Before you know it, your once-vibrant ensemble starts feeling like a ghost town!
Who Is the Culprit?
If we pull the mask off this mystery villain, the “killers” behind dying music programs are often a mix of factors working together.
- Competing Interests
As students get older, other priorities creep in. Sports, clubs, part-time jobs, social media, you name it. Without a strong emotional or community tie to your program, music can fall down the list. - Boredom
If students aren’t engaged or can’t connect with the material, they’ll tune out, literally. Keeping content relevant to their interests and showing how music connects to real life can make all the difference. - Feeling Stuck
Progress is motivating. When students don’t feel like they’re improving, their interest fades. Regular feedback, achievable goals, and opportunities to celebrate milestones keep them invested. - Low Confidence and Anxiety
Performance nerves, fear of failure, or embarrassment over mistakes can push students away. But consistent practice, encouragement, and a positive classroom culture can turn fear into excitement. - Lack of Support
Even the most passionate teacher can’t do it alone. Without parent, peer, or administrative support, the load can become too heavy and programs can crumble under the pressure.
While it’s easy to just blame some “meddling kids,” the truth is there’s a lot that can be done to help save a music program.
How to Bring A Music Program Back to Life
Besides a jolt of high-voltage electricity, recruitment and retention are key to reviving your program.
Recruitment
You can’t keep a program alive if new students never walk through the door. Recruitment isn’t just about signing up kids; it’s about creating excitement, visibility, and community pride.
Make Yourself Known
Students need to see your program in action before deciding to join. Bring the music outside your room:
- Play at school assemblies, sporting events, or fundraisers.
- Set up a mini performance during lunch or open house nights.
- Visit feeder schools to spark early interest.
Get out there early in the year while schedules are still flexible. A single fun, high-energy performance can do so much more for recruitment than a flyer.
Build Strong Connections
Recruitment is relational. Your network of parents, administrators, and fellow teachers can be your biggest advocates.
- Parents: Keep them informed and engaged. When they see the value of your program, through newsletters, performances, or student progress updates, they’ll champion your cause and encourage siblings or friends to join.
- Administrators: Show them data, student growth, and how music supports academic and emotional success. When they see measurable outcomes, they’re more likely to advocate for funding and flexibility.
- Teachers: Cross-curricular collaborations build visibility. Invite the math class to a rhythm lesson or the art class to design concert posters. The more your program feels integrated, the more respect and support it earns.
Make Exploration Fun
You’re not just teaching music, you’re building a culture students want to join.
- Host “Bring a Friend to Rehearsal” days.
- Let older students mentor new ones or help run open rehearsals.
- Visit elementary schools and show young students what they can look forward to. Encourage students to share their experiences through short testimonial videos or social posts.
Excitement is contagious. When students see that your program is welcoming, social, and fun, word spreads fast.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Your program’s story should be easy to find and hard to ignore. Keep your community informed and excited through email, newsletters, social media, and your school website.
Highlight moments that showcase your program’s energy and success, including:
- Student achievements and individual milestones
- Competition results and performance highlights
- Fun traditions and upcoming events or concerts
When people regularly see your program thriving, it builds pride and curiosity. A strong, visible presence turns communication into your best recruitment tool, showing students, parents, and administrators that your music program is active, valued, and worth joining.
For more creative ideas, check out our other blog, “VIRAL Recruitment Hacks For Music Program Explosion!”
Retention
Getting students in the door is only half the battle. Keeping them excited, confident, and connected is what makes your program sustainable.
Recognize and Reward Achievement
Public recognition goes a long way. Celebrate more than just musical excellence, highlight growth, effort, leadership, and perseverance.
- Give shoutouts during rehearsals or post “Musician of the Month” boards.
- Share performance clips or progress milestones with families.
- Offer small prizes for consistent practice or improvement.
- Give out rewards or ribbons at the end of the year to students who went above and beyond.
Celebrating wins throughout the year helps inspire students and keeps motivation high.
Keep Parents Engaged
Parents are your best partners in student retention. Invite them to concerts, volunteer roles, and community events. Keep them informed with newsletters or quick progress updates so they can see the value of music firsthand.
At the end of the year, send a short survey asking what they loved and what could improve. This builds trust and helps shape a stronger program next season.
Build Your Community
When students feel they belong, they stay motivated to make music together. Create shared experiences and small traditions that connect your ensemble beyond rehearsal time.
- Fun spirit days (“Dress like your favorite musician!”)
- Collaborative projects that mix sections or grade levels
- Door-decorating contests or classroom themes before concerts
- Field trips or service performances in the community
- Performing at school assemblies or sporting events
- Special themed performances (like playing the Star Wars theme on Star Wars Day at lunch)
These moments build pride, friendships, and lasting memories to help students feel connected and excited to return each year.
Keep It Fresh and Flexible
Students stay motivated when the content is engaging for them.
Incorporate popular songs, movie themes, and easily recognizable pieces that connect to their world. We’ve found that programs using engaging content, like The Foundations Series by Brian Balmages, saw students practice 2X more than their peers in programs that don’t use Foundations.
Stay open to change. If a warm-up or exercise isn’t clicking, switch it up. Regularly ask for student input and ideas to give them a voice and the ability to shape the program.
When students feel heard and excited about what’s ahead, they want to stick around.
Get Students More Involved
Ownership creates commitment. When students play an active role in your program, they feel invested in its success.
- Provide leadership opportunities like leading warm-ups, tuning the ensemble, organizing music folders, or planning parts of a concert or rehearsal.
- Encourage older students to mentor younger ones, help at recruiting events, or record short videos to share about why they love being a part of the program.
- Form small committees for outreach or planning to give everyone a chance to contribute in different ways.
When students help shape the experience, they take ownership of it. They’re no longer just participants; they’re part of what makes the program thrive.
Get Them Excited for the Future
Anticipation keeps students engaged. Build excitement by giving them a glimpse of what’s coming next with new repertoire, upcoming trips, or special performance opportunities. Even a short preview or announcement can give them something to look forward to and talk about.
Use that excitement as a bridge to the bigger picture. Highlight contemporary musicians, composers, or alumni who followed their passion into different careers. These real-world connections show students that music doesn’t stop at graduation.
When students can see how their current effort connects to future experiences and possibilities, they begin to view your program as a journey, not just a class. That sense of direction keeps them motivated and eager to stay part of what’s next.
Have Students Set Goals
Goal setting gives students a sense of purpose and progress. Encourage them to identify what they want to achieve like mastering a difficult section, improving tone quality, or increasing practice consistency. Setting these goals together helps students take ownership of their learning and stay motivated along the way.
As the year goes on, let their progress speak for itself. Record students periodically so they can listen back and hear how much they’ve improved. This reflection builds confidence and reinforces that their hard work pays off.
With MakeMusic Cloud’s new audio/video-only assignment tools (coming soon!), teachers can easily document progress and share those moments. Seeing (and hearing) real growth not only boosts morale, it inspires students to keep setting new goals and striving for their best.
Ask Them!
Sometimes the best way to understand your students’ plans is simply to ask. Toward the end of the year, check in with each student about whether they plan to continue next season. These honest conversations show that you care about their experience and help identify any barriers early.
You can also turn it into a fun challenge by setting a program-wide retention goal. Use a tracker, like a thermometer chart, sticker board, or jar, and celebrate progress as it grows. When the group reaches the goal, reward them with something memorable, like a themed day, pizza party, or end-of-year celebration.
Be Human
Students work hardest for teachers who genuinely care about them. A quick check-in, a kind word, or a small moment of encouragement can make a lasting impact on how they feel in your classroom.
Parents notice this too. When they see that their child is valued not only as a musician but as a person, they become your strongest supporters and advocates.
Putting students first and leading with empathy will almost always guide you in the right direction. Students who know you care stay, and parents who know you care want their child to be part of your program!
Maybe MakeMusic is the Spark You Need?
Reviving a program takes both creativity and the right tools. MakeMusic Cloud helps teachers strengthen recruitment and retention by making learning more interactive and engaging.
- Music Catalog: Explore thousands of popular titles for band, orchestra, choir, and more, including The Foundations Series by Brian Balmages (exclusive to MakeMusic Cloud).
- Interactive Practice: Students receive real-time assessment, professional accompaniments, and encouraging feedback, turning practice into a fun, confidence-building experience.
- Advanced Analytics: Track student progress, identify strengths, and save hours of manual grading with built-in insights that help you guide every learner.
- Time-Saving Tools: Simplify assignments, grading, and communication with time-saving features like Google Classroom Grade Passback.
Ready to bring your program back to life?
Start a free MakeMusic Cloud trial and rediscover the excitement that made you fall in love with teaching music in the first place.