Instrument Selection in Middle School Band

The purpose of this study was to determine the main factors in selecting band instruments at the beginning of middle school band and how these factors influence students during the selection process. Few studies have been done in the past and mainly on how gender or instrument timbre effects students’ decision. A band wide survey was taken by students, as well as, eight individual interviews were conducted which found that the sound of the instrument (78%), early success (42%), instrument physicality (38%) , and certain people in the lives of students (24% friends, 15% parents) were the main factors. Although this study is in line with some other studies done on instrument selection, it is only a small snap shot of information that could be used to develop a better selection process in music classrooms.