Primary school band programs: Attitudes of students, parents and music staff

Abstract

This study aimed to discover how primary school band programs are organised and for what reasons these instrumental ensembles are constructed as extra-curricular, curricular, or co-curricular activities. It explores what motivates students to participate in the school band, parents to enrol their students in the school band program and the pedagogical rationales of band program stakeholders, being parents and school music staff. It also explores the relationship between these perceptions of the role and value of band, and the pedagogical rationale that forms the structure of the band program. This thesis took the form of a multiple case research project where data was collected from two government primary schools in Northern Sydney. Surveys and interviews were used to investigate the differing perceptions of the role and value of the school band program and how these affect the level of integration the band has with classroom music. A case study of the extra-curricular band program in one of the participating schools is the focus of this thesis. In addition, this research project looks at the educational implications of extra-curricular band programs, prompting research into the primary school band system.