Date of Award

1-1-1982

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Foundations & Research

Abstract

Purpose. What should the high school band experience be? This was the question of concern in this dissertation. The examination served as the basis for formulating a course of study for the high school band.Procedures. The procedure of the investigation included an extensive review of the literature, an examination of band music literature, reflection on personal experience, and a questionnaire given to high school band members and their directors from twenty-five schools asking, "What should the high school band experience be?" In relation to the questionnaire data, a comparison of perceptions was made between band students and their directors and between groupings of the students within the band--male and female, intermediate and advanced quality players, and players of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The data obtained from the survey instrument were statistically tested for significant difference at the .05 level.Conclusions. Students appear to regard band less highly artistically than their directors. They, unlike the directors, view band as more of a service organization that plays music rather than a musical organization that provides service.Males and females also have different perceptions of band. Females are slightly more attuned to the aesthetic possibilities than males, and they are more deeply concerned with the social aspect of band than are the males.Players of woodwind instruments regard the band somewhat differently than players of brass or percussion instruments. The latter two tend toward a slightly less serious approach to band than woodwinds.Little significant difference exists between the view of band as perceived by brass players and percussionists and between players of intermediate or advanced quality.A three-year course of study for the high school band is presented. The philosophy and the goals are stated. A student's large group, small group, and individual experiences are described. Activities that occur during the normal band class period are listed and described, including the amount of time allotted to each. Choices of literature for the large group experiences are listed. Two other-than-classtime activities are described--pep band and individual sessions with the band director.

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