Date of Graduation

Summer 2024

Degree

Master of Music

Department

Music

Committee Chair

Daniel Hellman

Abstract

When choosing a beginning band instrument, students are faced with a choice that may be influenced by a variety of factors. These factors also interest band directors, who want students to choose an instrument that will be a good fit for their strengths while also being engaging to them. To assist directors in guiding students through instrument selection it is helpful to know what factors could influence students when they are choosing an instrument. To identify the factors that students report as impactful, beginning band students in five northwest Missouri school districts were surveyed about the influence of selected factors. Students reported being most influenced by their perceived enjoyment of playing their instrument, followed by instrument timbre. Other influential factors included the perceived ease of students’ chosen instruments, parents and other family members, and band directors. Male and female students reported differing levels of influence from perceived ease, perceived challenge, and non-parental family members. Brass, woodwind, and percussion students reported varying levels of influence from the people in their lives and perceived enjoyment. These survey results suggest that students are particularly influenced by their perception that an instrument will be fun to learn and play. To best engage this reported influence, band directors should present every instrument as fun, particularly those that may be underrepresented in the band.

Keywords

beginning band, instrument selection, instrument placement, instrument choice, survey, motivation, instrumentation

Subject Categories

Music Education

Copyright

© Aaron S. Morley

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Open Access

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