Thanksgiving reminds us of the importance of gratitude, connection, and celebration. As the excitement of the new school year fades, marching bands pack up instruments and uniforms, and the shift to concert and contest season begins. For high school music teachers, the Thanksgiving season offers a unique opportunity to reflect not only on the progress your ensembles have made but also on the experiences that can elevate your students’ musical journey outside of the classroom.

One of the most meaningful and memorable gifts you can give your students is the chance to take Center STAge and share their music with the world. What better way to do that than to take them on a tour with School Tours of America?

Why a Music Tour Is Something to Be Thankful For

• A tour transforms rehearsals into real-world performance opportunities. Students begin to understand the true impact of their music when they experience their performance outside of the classroom and community. These moments spark growth—musically, socially, and personally—and give students new reasons to be thankful for their own talents and hard work. 

• Think of the laughter on the bus rides, the awe in students' eyes as they explore a new place, the pride of stepping onto a stage miles from home. These aren’t just trips; they’re lifelong, and for some, life-changing memories. 

• Your ensemble is more than a group of performers. It's a family, and a tour strengthens that bond. Students learn to trust each other, support each other, and celebrate each other’s successes. 

Why Teachers Can Be Thankful for Tours, Too

• They reignite your passion. Watching students rise to the occasion reminds you why you chose this career.

• They improve recruitment and retention. Students talk, for years, about the tours they went on, the memories they made, and the friendships they formed. Future musicians want to be part of that magic.

• They strengthen the music program’s visibility. Performances on the road highlight your school’s dedication to the arts.

This Thanksgiving, Give Yourself Permission to Dream Big

As you gather with loved ones and reflect on the year, take a moment to think about the joy your students bring to your life and the pride you feel as you watch them grow. Then imagine where their music could take them next.

Maybe it’s a festival performance in a new state.
Maybe it’s an individualized masterclass with a renowned conductor.
Maybe it’s a showcase venue where they’ve always dreamed of performing.

Whatever the vision, Thanksgiving is the perfect season to plant the seed and start the trip-building process.

A Final Note of Thanks

To all high school music teachers, band boosters, administrative staff, secretaries and assistants, bus drivers, and custodians: thank you. Teachers: Thank you for inspiring young musicians, for late-night score study, for tuning section after section, for encouraging a timid freshman to take that solo, for keeping the arts thriving in schools. Boosters, administrators, secretaries, and assistants: Thank you for supporting the music program, its staff, and its students in a variety of ways, including fundraising, promotion of recruitment and performance events, organizing every aspect of ensemble (mostly behind the scenes), and for being the music department’s biggest cheerleaders! Bus Drivers and Custodians: Thank you for selflessly giving your time and energy to be a direct part of the success of a music program, for ensuring the safety of the students on the road, on the field, or in the auditorium, and for making yourself available to help in any way, any time.

Let a music tour amplify the gratitude, joy, and inspiration you share every day. Call School Tours of America TODAY at (832)762-4695 or visit the STA Performing Arts website to start planning your music tour!