Abstract
A Case For School Sponsorship of Community Bands:
Pro and Con

Community bands once played an important role in America. Changes in society and advances in communication and transportation diminished their impact. Quality-oriented school instrumental programs further obscured the democratic spirit of the town bands. Presently, thousands of adults who played in school are musically dormant. Present financial conditions place school and community bands in jeopardy. Affiliation of the two could bring about a re-activation of once musical adults, and could orient students to life-long musical expression. Even so, the suggestion of this kind of affiliation is generally rejected by school and community band officials.

It was the purpose of this study to elicit predictions and opinions of school and community band officials as to whether school sponsorship of a community band: (a) would be legal or appropriate; (b) would be practical in light of difficulties that may arise, and (c) would yield benefits sufficient enough to warrant its institution. Predictions of school superintendents, high school principals and band directors, and community band conductors were compared or contrasted with actual experiences of the school sponsored Narragansett Community Band.

Responses revealed widespread trepidation for a "Pandora's Box" outcome. Even so, conclusions drawn from the study were:

1. Community and school bands can be compatible: while they possess distinct identities and roles, their affiliation need not be detrimental to either. Affiliation can also promote positive interaction, understanding, and general support for schools.
2. Success of affiliation depends on a community band's ability or willingness to accede programming to the sponsoring organization, on the willingness to accept students as bonafide members, and on the school's willingness to accept the community band as a legitimate school activity.
3. Careful design and coordinated efforts between community band and school band can yield a successful year round instrumental program which significantly benefits young students, older students, adult musicians, the community at large, and the school district.