The price tag on a school instrument has climbed nearly 30% over the past two years, and tariffs have more than doubled since 2024. For Texas marching bands, that’s not an abstract stat. It shows up in repair bills, rental fees, and booster club meetings where families decide whether they can afford to keep a kid in the program. TMEA executive director Joe Muñoz says districts need long-term plans to handle these hard costs, and teachers are leaning on community connections to keep instruments in students’ hands.

At the same time, another path into music is picking up steam. Austin’s Dub Academy has grown steadily for 15 years by teaching DJing, where equipment costs less, students can rent gear, and they can start earning from gigs sooner than a traditional instrumentalist. Director David Elliott calls DJing “the new rock star.” The U.K. has recognized DJing as a legitimate instrument since 2016, which raises a fair question for Texas schools.

Around Waxahachie, where Friday night halftime is practically a civic tradition, this is more than a budget line. It’s about whether every kid who wants to make music has a way in. So we want to hear from you: did you play in the band, and would you steer your own kid toward the stage or the DJ booth?