Band Parents
My wife and I are Band Parents. Not only am I a Band Parent, but as a music teacher, I’ve met a lot of band parents.
They are… different. They are not cheerleader parents killing another flute player’s mom for a solo.
They are not Little League parents who yell at the director after some kid blows the trumpet feature they think their child would have nailed.
They are not stage parents who push their kids to be the star they never could be.
Band parents are tough. They endure the blistering heat of the Memorial Day parade and suffer the icy cold of football championships on Thanksgiving Weekend.
Band parents are resourceful. They fix a hem on a uniform in mid-parade, fix instruments they have never played and cases that have seen better days.
Band parents are sensitive. They find positive words for mediocre performances and reassuring words for solos missed.
Band parents are enthusiastic. They cheer as loudly for the last halftime show as the first, and smile widely as they sell yet another plate of cookies.
Band parents are eclectic. They love the symphonies of the orchestra, the extended jams of the jazz band, and the close harmonies of the choir.
Band parents are selfless. They give up dinner to get their children to concerts for the warm-up, and luxuries to pay for extra lessons at festival time.
Band parents are patient. They put up with Machiavellian band directors and discombobulated orchestra leaders.
Band parents aren’t better than anyone else, nor do we think ourselves better. Many of us were band geeks when we were growing up. We just find it hard to believe that any child would not want to be in the band. It might seem like we are stunned when you say your child would rather play football. Don’t worry- we are, but it’s less about you than it is about us. We know, just as you know, that there is little chance that our children will be successful football players or musicians when they grow to adulthood, but it’s fun to consider.
Well, at least that’s what I tell myself as I freeze my keister off on the icy cold bleachers late on a Friday Night in November.
