How Travel Boosts Recruitment

Can you feel it? Spring is right around the corner, which means our nearly 40,000 spring break travelers are counting the days till they can hit the road and make incredible music together. But after the challenges of the pandemic, many schools are looking for ways to drive enrollment in their music programs and build interest in performing again.

We believe that travel is a fun, familiar way to bring students back to music programs, because the directors we work with have shared story after story of just how powerful a trip on the calendar can be.

“Like all schools, we have been working hard to reconnect students to the joy of making music in-person and increasing enrollment in elective courses. An important tool for our staff has been to re-introduce travel for music ensembles. When we announced our first post-pandemic music program tour last summer, we immediately noticed an uptick in enrollment. After several cancelled trips, our students and families were thrilled to have an opportunity to make their world a little bigger.”

— Brayer Teague, Downers Grove North High School

 

Travel is a Natural Recruiter

Now that students are back to school and fully adjusted to the regular rhythms of on-campus life again, so many are looking for ways to plug in – and we’re not just talking students with music experience. Every year, middle and high schoolers who have never picked up an instrument or hummed a single tune will consider your program; and if there’s an exciting trip on the calendar, joining band, choir or orchestra just got a lot more interesting.

Over 60% of students say that their program’s student travel experience is a big reason they decided to participate.

Travel Builds Stability for Your Program

Whether you’re building a program from the ground up, rebuilding after several challenging years or looking to create a legacy program that will last, travel can help create consistency and stability. The students you travel with are some of your best recruiters, as they share their stories “from the road” with their classmates and friends. When prospective students know that joining your program saves them a seat on the next trip, they won’t want to miss the opportunity. Students are always looking for ways to belong and travel can be a piece of the puzzle, as you build an awesome culture for your program.

We’d love to help you build your program through performance travel experiences. If you’re ready to explore what’s possible for your students, reach out today! If you’re not quite ready but want to daydream a bit, check out our planning guides for information and inspiration.