Why Advocacy Matters: Parents and Community Are Your Best Allies

As band directors, we juggle a lot. Rehearsals, lesson plans, concerts, competitions… it’s enough to keep anyone busy. But one of the most important things we do often happens outside the rehearsal room: advocacy.

Now, I’m not talking about lobbying in Washington or writing long white papers. Advocacy doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, two of the most effective advocacy strategies are right in front of you every day: parents and community.

Build a Parent Advocacy Team

Here’s the truth: when tough decisions come up — budget cuts, schedule changes, staffing concerns — parents are the ones decision-makers listen to. Why? Because parents vote. Parents have kids in the system. Parents carry weight in a way that even we, as directors, sometimes don’t.

So instead of carrying the advocacy burden alone, equip your parents to be your voice.

Start simple:

• Identify 3–5 parents who are already your biggest supporters.

• Bring them together for a short meeting — nothing fancy, 30 minutes is plenty.

• Share your program’s wins (student achievements, awards, alumni stories).

• Hand them talking points and letter templates.

What happens next is powerful. Parents start speaking on your behalf at board meetings, writing letters, and spreading positive stories in the community. Suddenly, it’s not “the band director fighting for their job,” it’s parents demanding opportunities for their kids.

And that’s a voice administrators can’t ignore.

Make Community Connections

The second big piece of advocacy is visibility. If your band only shows up on the football field and in the spring concert, people forget you’re there. But when your group is woven into the fabric of the community, you become indispensable.

Take your band outside the walls of the school:

• Play at the town tree lighting ceremony.

• Partner with local veterans groups for a patriotic program.

• March in parades.

• Volunteer at charity events with a pep band.

These performances do more than entertain — they build relationships. Local leaders, business owners, and community members begin to see your students as a vital part of the town’s culture. And when it comes time to protect or grow your program, you’ll already have a network of allies cheering you on.

Putting It All Together

Strong parent teams and community connections mean you’re not standing alone when challenges come. Instead, you’ve got a whole crowd of voices advocating for the value of music education — and they’re often louder than you could ever be on your own.

Want to Go Deeper?

If you’ve ever thought, “I know I should be advocating, but I don’t know where to start,” I created something for you: The Band Director’s Advocacy Toolkit.

It’s packed with ready-to-use templates, parent talking points, and step-by-step strategies to help you build the kind of support network that will sustain your program for years.

🎺 Download your copy today and start building the team your students deserve.

👉 Get The Band Director’s Advocacy Toolkit