The purpose of this study was to collect data concerning the criteria used by Florida secondary school band directors when selecting music for curricular inclusion in their wind band programs. Subjects (N=64) responded to a survey sent in the last quarter of the school year. The survey asked that the participant list four pieces selected for performance throughout the year, and to provide reasoning for their selection. A second portion asked the participant to rank the order of criteria that were identified in the research literature.
Findings indicate that the top criterion ranked among the responding Florida band directors was aesthetic value. The free response portion indicated that educational elements were the primary criterion when selecting music for curricular inclusion. A disparity was found between high school directors (n=25) and middle school directors (n=39) in that 44.0 percent of high school directors ranked aesthetic value as their top criterion, and only 8.8 percent of middle school directors ranked the same criterion as their top criterion.
The responses are in line with the data of past research and the ideas posited by authors in the professional literature.
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