Why Playing in a Band Rules

Alex Stanton • January 10, 2022

I was in a band (a pop-punk group called My Mom’s Gonna Kill Me) before I even played an instrument. One of my friends who was starting it convinced me to join:

“But I’ve never played guitar!” I protested.

“You’ll figure it out” was their reply.

We got together in my friend’s basement right after the holidays, still taking stickers and tags off of our shiny new guitars and drums.

“Ready? What’s My Age Again in 3… 2… 1…”

OK so our band didn’t last forever, but in some ways it did. After that first practice, I admitted I needed lessons and began studying weekly with my first guitar teacher. Each week MMGKM would get together and take another crack at those Blink 182 songs. Then I would go back into my lessons and work with my teacher on how to play my parts better and better. Our playing evolved individually and the band really started to sound professi- just kidding we broke up. But personally, I was hooked, and have been “in a band” in one sense or another nearly every day since.

The more I reflect on those early experiences, when playing with a group was so entwined with my actually learning the basics of my instrument, the more important I believe it was. From the moment we introduced the first band program at Sunburst and we started coaching kids (who are now adults! Woah) we started to see them get better at their instrument rapidly. Not only that but some of the trickiest topics to work on in private lessons, especially rhythm and timing, were areas where they made the biggest improvements in the shortest amount of time.

Why? I think the easiest answer is that it’s fun! The reward of building something out of nothing that’s greater than the sum of its parts, and watching it come into focus as each of you makes almost imperceptible adjustments can be really profound. Each player is relying on all of the other’s week to week but also second to second like an ongoing trust fall or a human pyramid. This is also why playing music with others builds such great relationships, allowing young people to communicate with each other in a totally different and in many ways more honest and emotional way.

And then, there’s performing. Stepping from the practice room to the stage can be daunting, but in many ways, it’s easier together than as a solo artist while the rewards are multiplied. I’ll never forget the feeling the first time I stepped on stage to play with a band (My second group: The Lord Of The Rings Band). My knees shook for the first song but by the time we were done, I couldn’t stop smiling for a week. I really believe I became a more confident person that day.

Over the 7 years that we’ve been doing band programs and camps at Sunburst, we’ve seen something similar time and time again, and it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of our jobs as teachers. Of course, we know that there are no shortcuts to something like learning an instrument, but if there was one, treating it like a team sport might be it.

We’re just getting started with the spring season of our band programs! Learn more and set up a free session here.

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Sunburst News - August 2025

August 1, 2025

August- Issue #96

5 Reasons to Start Playing in a Band

July 30, 2025

As summer break comes to a close, we’re gearing up for the next term of the Sunburst Band Program and would love to see some new faces this fall. Playing in a band is one of the best ways to progress as a musician, so we put together a list of five reasons why we encourage our students to seek out opportunities to play in groups—whether it's starting a band or jamming with a couple of friends. Progress Your rhythm, timing, and listening skills improve quickly when you start playing in a band or group setting. While private lessons and solo practice are essential pieces of the puzzle, playing with others introduces new variables—like tempo changes, dynamics, and coordination—that challenge you to stay in sync with your bandmates and adapt to each other. We’ve seen so many students level up after just a couple months in the Sunburst Band Program–the progress happens fast! Friends and Connections We love watching our students and their families become friends and our band program has been a natural starting point for many of those relationships. Some of our current bands have stayed together for years, and it's awesome to see them hang out outside of lessons and support each other at shows. Plus, one of the best ways to get gigs is through connections with other musicians! Motivation Playing in a band is super motivating because you're part of a group working toward an exciting shared goal. Whether you're learning a new song, building a set list, or getting ready for a show, the process becomes more exciting and rewarding when you're making music you love with people you enjoy being around. That shared energy turns practice into something much more fun and meaningful. Performing Performing can be nerve-wracking, but it gets easier the more you do it, and being on stage with your friends makes it less scary. We love seeing how our students' stage presence and confidence grow with each performance—it’s one of our favorite parts of being teachers! As we mentioned, shows are a great place to make connections with musicians who you’d like to collaborate with in the future. Simply put, playing more shows leads to playing more shows. Creative Outlet Music is a powerful tool for expression, and it’s important to have outlets for that at any age! Life is very fast paced for many of us, and it can be tough to pause and do the things you enjoy. Band practice can be a consistent anchor in your week—something you can rely on for connection, processing, and creating with your bandmates. As corny as it sounds, playing music is good for your spirit! If you’d like to know more about the Sunburst Band Program, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for more information. We also recommend talking with your private lessons instructor so that they’re aware and can help you prepare.