Indoor Marching Band: The Next Generation of Marching Ensembles in Pennsylvania
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to identify the indoor marching band programs in secondary music education settings throughout Pennsylvania.
Research Questions:
•Do the number of hours spent in Marching Band correlate to growth?
•How many marching band hours are spent participating in indoor marching band ensembles?
•What is the percentage of high schools in Pennsylvania offering an indoor marching band program?
Abstract:
Participation in extracurricular indoor marching band programs such as Winter Guard International (WGI) is becoming increasingly popular among high school instrumental students throughout the country. The state of Pennsylvania boats the Keystone Indoor Drill Association (KIDA), Tournament of Bands, Cavalcade of Bands, and Tournament Indoor Association. While these programs are gaining popularity as activities for high school students, few high schools support indoor marching band programs in their curricular or extracurricular program offerings. The purpose of this quantitative study is to identify which high schools in Pennsylvania support an indoor marching band and percussion program in theirmusic curriculum. Three research questions emerged based on the purpose: (1) What is the percentage of high schools in Pennsylvania offering an indoor marching band or percussion program? (2) How many marching band hours are spent practicing with indoor marching band ensembles? and (3) Do the number of hours spent in Marching Band correlate to perceived student musicianship growth? A 25 questionlikert-type survey will be sent to (N=100) high school band teachers in Pennsylvania with the purpose of identifying which large programs offer indoor marching band as a curricular or extracurricular option to students. The teacher participants were identified using school district websites, competitive Marching Band association websites, and online listings of the largest high schools in Pennsylvania. Through analysis of this information, potential participants were selected on the following criteria: (1) The school is a traditional brick and mortar school with a music program, (2) The school offers a marching band program to students, and (3) The marching band is comprised of at least 50 members. This ongoing research is the first step in a larger study about the benefits of marching band participation on the musicianship training of high school instrumentalists.
Discussion:
The purpose of this research was to discover what districts in Pennsylvania offered indoor marching band programs and how those programs contributed to student growth. The research was done using the EBSCOhost database to find information regarding the benefits of marching band in music education.
This research is not yet complete. In order to complete this research, a survey will be sent to 100 marching band directors in Pennsylvania via email. This data will then be compiled to show consistencies in student growth due to marching band as well as what programs are offered throughout the state. According to Felix Mayerofer, author of Is Marching Band in Step with Music Education, the benefits of marching band expand far more than what is clearly measurable. Students develop discipline, physical stamina and coordination, a sense of responsibility, cooperative learning strategies, leadership ability, social skills, as well as a host of other beneficial skills.