Factors that influence second-year participation in a university marching band

Abstract

Retention rates for college marching band participation show a considerable number of students choose to drop out every year, with a range of 17.6 % attrition at smaller universities and 42% in larger Division 1 Programs (“A recent series of studies”, 2014; Townsend, 2004). Unfortunately, most students leave after only participating for one year (Patzig, 1983; Fuller, 1995; Townsend, 2004) suggesting the transition from first to second year membership is especially consequential to the goal of improving retention. In this study, the University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band (MDB) was examined. The MDB is widely known regionally and arguably throughout the United States for its close involvement to its storied football program and for excellence in music performances across many decades. Unfortunately, at the time of this study, the first-year member retention rate for the MDB was only 66.4. To determine those factors that may improve retention, all first-year members of the MDB (N=144) in 2015 were invited to complete a survey two months before registering for fall 2017 classes. Participants’ (n=78, 54.2%) provided basic demographic information (e.g., gender information, in-state/out-of-state status, instrument, degree/major, scholarship information), current participation in other band ensembles (e.g., pep band, concert band), and indicated their intention to re-audition for the MDB. The questionnaire included 22 items: evaluating each factor with a 5-point Likert-scale: (1) not influential, (2) somewhat not influential, (3) undecided, (4) somewhat influential, and (5) influential. Participants were also asked to share three items they enjoyed the most and least during the marching band season; these were read by independent evaluators and themes were identified. Additional questions asked whether first-year members would recommend joining the MDB to their peers and whether they agreed to participate in a concert band during the spring 2016 semester to “guarantee membership” and thereby avoid having to re-audition for the 2016 MDB. Participants’ responses were classified into four factors that influenced their intended decision to return for a second year: time requirements, degree responsibilities, performance enjoyment and financial opportunities. Common ideas emerging from participants’ open-ended responses to items enjoyed were social, travel, performance, pride, and game day, while items they did not enjoy were time-commitments, number of rehearsals, external factors, leadership, and musical selections. Recommendations for future research and implications for college marching bands were addressed.