ABSTRACT
It is unlikely the school budget covers all costs of running an instrumental music program, particularly extra-curricular aspects such as trips and competitions. There are two broad approaches to fundraising: Individual-focused activities; and group-focused activities. Among music program’s strongest fundraising allies are parents of the students in ensembles, especially when organized into Band Parent Organizations or Music Booster Organizations. Booster organizations are often in place when directors arrive at a school, but if not they are relatively easy to organize. Most school concerts have a built-in audience of friends and family, and thus need little advertising beyond an announcement and a letter. The topic of advocacy for music education is a vast subject, and a complete discussion is beyond the realm of this text. Overbye’s argument is notable both for its elegance and its dual tact. It extols science for what makes it unique—the unbiased search for knowledge—and also for its peripheral benefits—the values and thought processes it teaches.
