Abstract:
Research suggests there are a number of factors that influence band directors' repertoire selection. Findings suggest that decisions can be influenced by musical and non-musical internal and external factors. This study examined the effect of musical and non-musical considerations on band directors' repertoire selection for performances at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE). High school band directors (N = 123) completed a survey designed to report and reflect on the viability of the criteria used to select the repertoire performed at LGPE in 2014. A factor analysis identified eight primary musical components for selecting repertoire for LGPE: Composition Elements, Various Standards, Confidence Selecting LGPE Repertoire, Teaching Musicality, Teaching Fundamentals, Importance of Rehearsal Time, Importance of Double Reeds and Low and High Brasses. A second factor analysis revealed three unique decision-making styles among participant directors: Power Risk-Taking, Passive Decision-Maker, and Reactionary Decision- Making. Results revealed a relationship with passive decision-making regarding the component Confidence Selecting LGPE Repertoire and with reactionary decision-making styles components Confidence Selecting LGPE Repertoire and Importance of Rehearsal Time. Additional analysis revealed the importance of teaching experience and the components Confidence Selecting LGPE Repertoire, Teaching Musicality, Teaching Fundamentals, and Low and High Brasses. The number of ensembles band directors supervised at the 2014 LGPE revealed significance with the components Various Standards and Confidence Selecting LGPE Repertoire.
