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Prompted by one parent's concerns, Mount Airy Middle and South Carroll High schools are looking for ways to boost student participation in and increase support for dwindling music programs.

Compared to other Carroll County schools, student participation rates in band and orchestra programs at the two schools stand out as the lowest in the system.

Recognizing that, officials said they working to address the problem and resolve some of the challenges that may have stunted the growth of the music programs.

At Mount Airy Middle, music teachers and the Principal Virginia Savell have developed a seven-step plan to boost participation. As part of the plan, for example, they are inviting parents to join a newly founded booster committee, which will work to increase awareness and generate support for the band and orchestra programs at the school. The problem with music program participation in Mount Airy schools became evident after Rita Misra of Mount Airy sent fellow parents and school officials an e-mail with full comparison of music program participation across the system.

Misra said she became interested in the issue earlier this year when her eighth-grade daughter said that her orchestra class at Mount Airy Middle consisted of three eighth-grade students. Mount Airy Middle School's orchestra consists of more than 20 students altogether.

"I thought 'How can you play in an orchestra with three children [at your ability level]?'” Misra said. "How are you being challenged here?"

Misra went a step further and obtained participation numbers from the school system through a Freedom of Information Act request. The raw numbers, she said, painted a picture of significant disparity among schools.

There were also disparities on high school level, where neighboring Century High school — the school with the most modern facilities in the system — had the highest participation rates in band and orchestra in the entire Carroll County school system.

South Carroll High, on the other hand, fell behind all other high schools in the system by student participation in band classes.

Misra, who says that the benefits of art and music are "too numerous to describe," sent these statistics to music educators and parents throughout the system, pleading for them to help stop the decline of music programs.

"You'll see a beautiful band in some schools," said Misra, while others, like South Carroll, don't have a marching band and don't participate in competitions.

"I just don't think it's fair to the children," Misra said.

According to teachers and administrators, the reasons for the disparity are different and complicated, and are related to staffing and scheduling issues.

Lisa Katz, department chair of music at South Carroll High School, said she is also concerned about the decline of band participation at the school. She attributes it to a staffing issue in the past and said the music teacher at the school now is working to build up the school's band and orchestra class participation.

"This requires a lot of enthusiasm," she said. "Mr. Stevenson has started doing that. I would really like to see us have a marching band."

David Howes, who teaches music at Mount Airy Middle, said scheduling issues are one of the biggest problems for building up a strong music program. To solve the problem, Mount Airy Middle has developed a plan that aims to bring students back into the band and orchestra classroom.

The plan includes renovating the band room at the school, improving communication with parents and promoting the music program in the community, Howes said. It also includes an a effort to develop a collaboration between Mount Airy Middle and Mount Airy Elementary in effort to encourage students in the 4th-grade instrumental program to continue music classes in middle school. Creating a booster committee of parents and community members supporting music programs, should also help build up participation at the school.

As one of the most significant changes in the plan, the school has also decided to look into a ways to resolve scheduling problems, so students don't have to choose between music and academics.

The school has also decided not to push students who take band and orchestra to take basic music classes, said Savell.

"We are looking at serious scheduling changes," she said. "The kids are actually doubling up in music now."

With one less basic music class in the future, advanced music students will have time to focus on band and music.

Savell said she received a number of e-mails from parents, who responded to Misra's call and offered their help to the school.

East: band 20; orchestra 5.5

North Carroll: band 19.9; orchestra 5.3

West: band 18; orchestra 3.9

Sykesville: band 16.8; orchestra 5.9

Shiloh: band 15.6; orchestra 5.9

New Windsor: band 15.4; orchestra 2.4

Northwest: band 14.6; orchestra 3.5

Mount Airy: band 9.3; orchestra 3.3

Westminster: band 20; orchestra 5.5

Century: band 10.7; orchestra 3

Liberty: band 10.5; orchestra 1.9

Winters Mill: band 8; orchestra 1.8

North Carroll: band 6.1; orchestra 1

Francis Scott Key: band 5.9; orchestra 1.1

South Carroll: band 3.8; orchestra 1.6