The Clarke Central High School marching band performs at the Billy Henderson Stadium in the 2021 Classic City Championship on Oct. 28. The band’s membership has relied on tactics that build personal relationships with potential recruits. “A lot of our high school kids go (to Clarke Middle School or Burney-Harris Lyons Middle School to) help teach (the band students),” Director of Bands Christopher Simpson said. Photo by Lucas Donnelly
The CCHS band program’s efforts to recruit potential members implement good relationships and bonds amongst new and existing members.
Crash! An eighth-grader hears the resonance of a cymbal and the singing of a mellophone while seeing the red and gold of the Billy Henderson Stadium as they attend the Clarke Central High School band program’s “Middle School Night.”
Eighth-graders interested in band are able to gain high school band experiences due to the opportunities the CCHS band provides when advertising their program to potential members. Eighth-grade night on Oct. 15 and band camp in July are some of the events where rising freshmen can get to know the current band members and Director of Bands Christopher Simpson.
“When I (meet students), I like for the kids to know my name and to be familiar with it,” Simpson said. “I make it my goal to have a conversation (with them), that way we can start building that rapport.”
“(We) basically bring middle school kids in eighth grade and some seventh graders (to CCHS), and then the (current CCHS band) kids show them about marching band, let them get that experience and (learn that there is) more to the band.”
— Chris Simpson,
Director of Bands
The band’s reputation amongst people also helps recruit members as many recommendations to join the band come from CCHS community members.
“I feel like most people heard about (the band through) word of mouth. What got me to join in the first place was the Middle School Night, and that was really fun,” Senior and band member Clayton Dodson said. “My brother was in the marching band too. I think (having a friend or family member in the band is) the case for a lot of other people.”
Many of the band program’s efforts focus on building and maintaining the relationship between the high school and middle school programs throughout the full calendar year.
“We also have plans for spring drills,” Simpson said. “(We) basically bring middle school kids in eighth grade and some seventh graders (to CCHS), and then the (current CCHS band) kids show them about marching band, let them get that experience and (learn that there is) more to the band.”
