West Essex has seen a noticeable decline in student participation in music programs in recent years, particularly in the band, choir and orchestra. While there are many factors contributing to this decline, the impact of COVID-19 stands out as a major potential catalyst for the unfortunate decline.
During the pandemic, schools were forced to switch to remote instruction, and music programs were significantly impacted by this change. Music ensembles, which rely on group participation and in-person rehearsals, were unable to meet in their usual capacity. After a year without regular in-person practice and performance opportunities, many students may have found it difficult to reconnect with the programs once school returned to in-person learning.
Changes in teens’ priorities may have also led to the decrease in interest in these programs. In recent years, many students have chosen to focus more on academics or extracurricular activities that they feel are more aligned with their future career goals. Some music programs, once an embodiment of West Essex’s appreciation of the arts, now struggle to attract the same level of participation. Some students also view joining a music program as a way to fulfill graduation requirements rather than out of a genuine interest in learning an instrument or being part of a musical ensemble. This can negatively affect the community that classes like band, choir and orchestra are intended to create, made up of students that are passionate about music.
This lack of interest had a direct impact on the school’s famous quadrennial music trip to Disney World. Typically a highlight of the year for the marching band, the last time the music department went was in 2019 with about 213 students in either band, choir or orchestra. The trip was canceled in 2022-23, when the marching band didn’t meet the minimum requirement of 50 students for the parade. Without a full band, the trip, which current students in all music classes had eagerly anticipated, couldn’t happen. While the orchestra class has had consistent participation numbers, with a range from 30 to 45 students each year, the drastic drop in band members meant there were not enough people for the trip to go on.
Notably, the band had increasingly higher numbers than the other music classes throughout the 2010s; however, after the pandemic, they were hit the hardest possibly due to students’ growing apathy to the music program.
Despite the challenges with enrollment, West Essex still offers a variety of music ensembles for students to participate in, and there are numerous opportunities for students looking to explore any style of music. The Marching Knights is one of the most well-known programs, offering students the chance to perform at school events, parades and competitions. Alongside the marching band, the Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Band allow students to explore rhythm and improvisation in a more specialized setting. For those interested in string instruments, the Chamber Orchestra provides opportunities to perform at a higher level, while the Pit Orchestra is essential for school musicals, providing live music for the performances. Additionally, the HarmonKnights offers vocalists the chance to participate in fun, energetic performances, blending choral music with modern hits.
For students who want to take their musical skills to the next level during the school day, several ensemble classes are offered, including the Concert Choir, Women’s Choir, Orchestra, Concert Band and Symphonic Winds. These classes give students the chance to perform in a more formal setting, learning both classic and contemporary music, while receiving valuable feedback from skilled instructors.
While these programs are still strong, the question now lies of how to bring the music programs back to their former glory. One possible solution lies in making music programs feel more engaging and relevant to students. Many high schoolers don’t truly know what each ensemble entails and how much of a strong and connected community these programs have. For students who are unsure about being part of a group or aren’t music inclined, there should be more promotion about the performances, which are always a great way to support fellow West Essex students and get a look into what these amazing ensembles can do.
It’s also important to show students all that these programs have to offer in order to encourage them to be part of the rebuild. Students need to be motivated by more than just fulfilling a graduation requirement, and showing them the amazing benefits to participating in music will help encourage this. By inspiring a culture of passion for music and its benefits—creativity, discipline and collaboration—West Essex can begin to revive its music programs.
As we look ahead, it will be interesting to see how enrollment in these programs changes. Here are the numbers from past enrollment in music programs:
By working together, we can help restore the music programs that have been an important part of West Essex’s legacy and ensure they thrive for future generations.
