17 Ways to Build a Better Youth Band

ONE. Start with who and what you have now. If you’ve got an 8th grader who can play three chords on the guitar, great! Don’t wait till you’ve gathered enough for a full band. Just start. Don’t have drums? Spend 100 bucks on some basic percussion instruments and enlist a kid who plays percussion in the school band.

TWO. Aim toward what you want: a student-led band. At first, you might need to supple-ment the band with adults. But always keep in front of the youth (and adults) the goal ot be a band of, by and for the students.

THREE... [read more or download]