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        Activities for Local Youth and Junior Branches

     In an effort to build and maintain a local youth and/or junior branch of NANM, it is important that its adult sponsors and the local adult branch plan carefully for these young people for the school year as well as the summer.  Although all of these activities and event may not fit on one calendar year, it is not impossible to schedule two events in one month.  This may even mean that the local youth and/or junior branch may be more active activity-wise than the adult branch.  Many of these events are designed to attract young, aspiring musicians that may eventually join the youth and/or junior branch.  Here are some suggested activities and events that can take place in that branch:

1.      Hold regular monthly meetings at a school, church, community center, arts center, music store, someone’s house, etc. on a rotational basis

a.      Sponsors from the adult branch should be selected (on a volunteer basis)

b.      Officers should be elected: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, parliamentarian, chaplain, and pianist.

c.       Refreshments could be served if members (through their parents) choose to prepare them (not have money taken out of the treasury to purchase them)

d.      A guest lecturer/speaker (teacher, professional musician, motivator, adult branch member, etc.) could be invited to speak once in a while (or hold a short clinic)

e.      An event (social function, fund raising activity, etc.) may follow the meeting.

2.      Form branch ensembles: chorale, orchestra, band, piano guild, dance troupe, drama group, etc.

a.      Find a director for each group (who will probably volunteer)

b.      Schedule rehearsals and performances for each group

c.       Plan travel including to the NANM Conferences (national and possibly regional)

3.      Attend performances of adult branch performing groups and their sponsored events, local colleges, the symphony orchestra (in the city), marching band festivals, choir concerts (choral and gospel), recitals, etc.

4.      Hold musical contests for young musicians (solos, ensembles; piano, vocal, instrumental, musical composition, drama skit, dance, etc.)

a.      Award prizes (cash, music camp scholarships, private lesson scholarships, NANM memberships,  trip to NANM Conference, etc.)

b.      Recruit contestants from the schools and their district solo and ensemble festivals (and large group festivals: band, orchestra, chorus, etc.)

c.       Invite all contestants to join NANM and to become a part of the local junior and/or youth branch (or form one if there is not one)

5.      Attend music workshops for young musicians

6.      Hold or sponsor a music workshop for young musicians (camp, retreat, etc.) in the categories of piano, vocal music, instrumental music, dance, drama, etc.

a.      Workshops by guest instructors/conductors (including NANM members)

b.      A performance at the conclusion of each workshop

7.      Parental involvement to assist the students in

a.  communication                                           e.  activity supervision

b.  transportation                                             f.  cultural enrichment

c.  fund raising                                                g.  attire preparation

d.  trip planning                                              h. whatever else needed

8.      Annual awards ceremony (luncheon, banquet, picnic, etc.) to recognize members for participation, commitment, and merit

9.      Raise funds for travel, scholarship, equipment (music, stationery, refreshments for special occasions, postage, awards, etc.) and so on

a.  benefit concert                                                       f.  candy sales

b.  car wash                                                                g.  skating party

c.  fish fry                                                                    h.  drawing (raffle)

d.  barbeque                                                               i.  carnival

e.  flea market                                                             j.  trips to outlet malls

10.  College fairs

a.      attend one or more

b.      create one (include workshops on scholarship preparation and financial aid) especially for high school-aged musicians (beginning in ninth grade)

11.  Community service

a.        perform in nursing homes, shelters, hospitals, and other places in the community (solos, ensembles, and large groups)

b.        prepare holiday baskets of food, other necessities, and small gifts

12.  Social fellowships, outings, and excursions to interact with each other on a fun and friendly basis

a.  beach/picnic                                                          e. athletic events

b.  amusement park                                                    f.  rafting/hiking

c.  skating                                                                    g.  swimming

d.  movies                                                                    h.  museums/science centers

13.  Summer music camp to prepare for the NANM Conference

a.      Select site (church, school, community center, etc.) for camp

b.  Select dates and times (daily for one or two weeks; camp could conclude with a concert)

c.      Pass out flyers in the spring to all local schools, churches, music stores, etc. (put ads in all community and major local newspapers and magazines).  Recruitment for the local youth and/or junior branch should occur at all times of the year.  The Summer Camp may be a good time to get a lot of new members.

d.     Select/hire an adult staff of instructors, parent chaperones, counselors (if necessary).  Each student would pay a camp fee which would pay these people (keep the staff at a minimum according to how many students enroll)

e.     Course offerings (levels, performing arts areas, etc.), field trips, clinics/mini-workshops, rehearsals, performances (even at other summer camps), etc.

f.       The performing groups: choir, band, orchestra, dance, drama, etc.

14.  Recruitment campaign would be on a continuous basis to bring more students to NANM.  Most of the above activities can bring in new members.