Why Give to the Bands?

In Santa Monica, we are fortunate to have a school district that supports the arts. At the high-school level, SMMUSD provides funding for two full-time band directors, partial funding for color guard instruction, and a small stipend for an instructional aide in band classrooms for a few hours per week.

To supplement what the district provides, the Samohi Band Parents Association (BPA) seeks donations and raises funds to help deliver the highest possible quality music education to our students. On average, the Samohi Band Parents Association (BPA) spends

$250 per pupil per year on the concert band program, or 2 weeks of marching Band Camp
$1250 per pupil per year on marching band and color guard (including Band Camp)
and $150 per pupil per year on jazz band.

What does this pay for? Well, you may have heard the expression “Stuff vs. Staff” in relation to fundraising at SMMUSD schools.* For the Samohi Band program, the BPA pays for both stuff AND staff.

Stuff

Music folders and stands
Band room lockers and related supplies
New instrument purchases
School-owned instrument repairs and supplies
Concert programs
Student awards
Concert, marching, and jazz festival entry fees (our directors must pay school participation fees so that our students can audition for all-southern and all-state honor groups)
Marching band & guard uniforms and supplies

…and Staff

Percussion instructor for all five concert band classes
Concert band festival adjudicators/clinicians
Funding for the color guard tech
Marching band percussion caption head & percussion techs
Marching band visual techs & sound technician
Miscellaneous concert and jazz band clinicians

* Re: “Stuff vs. Staff” in SMMUSD — In general, the PTAs raise funds for necessary “stuff” such as supplies, books, and equipment at school sites, while your donations to the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation fund additional staff and programs at each school. For the Samohi Band program, the BPA pays both.

Please keep in mind that all Samohi musicians may participate in all aspects of the band program, regardless of their family’s ability or willingness to donate.