Content area
Full Text
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine if the reputation of a particular marching band aided in the recruitment of students to the entire university. Marching band members (N=273) at a large four-year comprehensive university were surveyed in an attempt to answer this question. The survey was designed to investigate this specific question in comparison to other reasons that students might give for having chosen to attend this particular institution. Results of the volunteer survey asking the question, "Why did you choose to attend this specific university?" yielded these results: The top three reasons listed as number one were: "Reputation of a specific department" (34%), "To be a Marching _____" (20%), and "Reputation of the University" (15%). The top reason listed as number two in importance was: "To be a Marching _____" (25%). The top choices listed as number three in importance were: "To be a Marching _____" (22%), "Reputation of the University" (16%), and "Cost effectiveness" (13%). Finally, "To be a Marching _____" was the highest percentage response from across all three categories, #1, #2, and #3, at 67%. The most important finding of this report is that many students actually choose to come to a certain institution because of its marching band as was evident in this case study. Implications for music education are discussed in regard to student leadership opportunities within the organization. Further, from 5-8 students actually change their major to instrumental music education at the conclusion of their first year.
The collegiate marching band has a long history as an important organization for a university. A successful collegiate marching band can represent and vitalize the university in a variety of ways. It can be said that the earliest marching bands were the forerunners of today's symphony orchestras, concert bands, and instrumental chamber music, as well as the modern marching band (Foster, 1978). Performing almost exclusively out-of-doors, today's marching band continues the historical development of outdoor music (Shellahamer, Swearingen, and Woods, 1986). Indeed, marching bands have been used for multi-purposes throughout history. However, the earliest of marching bands had military origins. The First World War gave a tremendous impetus to bands because of high interest in the morale-boosting effect of bands playing martial and patriotic music (Shellahamer...