Discovering a Kid's Motivation

Kids participate in band for different reasons, all of which are valid.  Through building personal relationships, I try to understand what those motivations are, and at the same time, try to find a harmony between them.  After 6th grade band this morning, I found myself in a discussion with my co-teacher about many of our current seventh graders.  At this point, we have known them for a full year as 6th grader and are just now starting to see what kind of student they are shaping into.  Some are definitely band kids now - they're sticking.  Some of them aren't quite as stuck, but are getting stickier!  Regardless, they are all here for some reason.

What is motivating each one to be in band?  I think the kids that want to be here most often settle into a few of these categories.

1. Kids who love band
2. Kids who love their instrument
3. Kids who love music
4. Kids who are good at their instrument

Kids who love band love being part of a group.  They love that they are a part of something that makes them special just for being a part of it.  They don't have to be the best player, but they are often the best trier.  They are okay with not being the best and will celebrate those who are, but they won't tolerate those who act like they are better than everyone. 

Kids who love their instrument are often the best players because they have a good relationship with the instrument.  They enjoy practicing and they are proud to be in their section.  These students have developed the technical ability to think with fingers; the haptic connection between their body and the instrument.  This is the category most of our true "band kids" are at the moment, and it is a crucial pathway to the love music category.

Kids who love music are often the inspiration to get out of bed in the morning.  Anything you throw at these kids they can catch and will do so enthusiastically.  They are self starters and sometimes it is hard to keep up with them.  These are the students who can play multiple instruments and may have more musical outlets besides band.  These kids usually love band, but that is not always the case...sometimes frustratingly so.  These kids usually love their instrument, but that is not always the case...also frustrating!  I spend and invest a lot of my emotional energy into these students and that is why it breaks my heart when these end up being the students who don't stick.  This sheds light on a different reality.  Not all kids who love music are automatically "band kids."  Loving music does not automatically guarantee a love of band.  They will only love band, if it enriches their love for music, allows them to be creative, and gives them creative opportunities.   

Kids who are good at their instrument often can fit into the other three categories, and it is related directly to the commitment it takes to love band and music.  We want students to be good at their instruments because those are the students with which we want to fill our bands.  When the band plays well, all the other motivating factors fall into place more easily. However, I know of several students who are very good at their instrument but don't fit neatly in any other category.  I think being good at something can motivate you to love it, but I do not think it is enough.  At this point, is there anything more a teacher can do?  I'll keep trying.

We have kids who fit in in every combination of these categories from none of them to all four.  My challenge is building harmony in a program that suits the needs of all kids.  For the kids in neither category, which one do we push them towards?  For the kids in every category, what got them there?

(A student wrote this on the board before the first day of school.  We still haven't erased it or figured out who wrote it.)