Due to continued school budget cutbacks for the Fine Arts programs, the Fairfax County School System now funds only the band director’s salary, repair for school owned instruments, a limited amount of new music purchases and an occasional instrument purchase. It is the James Madison Band Parents Organization (Band Boosters) that provides the funds to:

• Pay for specialists (professional musicians) to assist in teaching sectional rehearsals for the band, and for the Color Guard and the Winter Guard instructors
• Design and choreograph the marching show
• Purchase new instruments, equipment and music
• Provide registration fees for competition
• Provide for professional staff development
• Cover the cost of transportation
  

The Band Boosters also help to organize the bands trips, provide chaperones for all band and Winter Guard events and help to transport the bands substantial amount of equipment to and from competitions and performances.

 

Every parent of a student in the Madison Bands program is expected and encouraged to give at least one hour each month on behalf of the band program. There are many, many jobs, both small and large, required to make this program succeed. A marvelous sense of accomplishment comes from hearing and seeing the superior results of our students and parents hard work.

Each year, parents give a total of more than 7,000 volunteer hours to this program. Each parents contribution is extremely important and very much appreciated.