Examining effectiveness of modern band professional development for practising teachers

Abstract

Modern band is a type of musical ensemble that typically uses rock band instruments (guitars, basses, drums, keyboards and vocals) and can also incorporate digital technologies to create music of recent, popular styles. Several models of professional development in modern band have surfaced in the United States over the last few years. Literature on professional development contains varied lists and descriptions of characteristics that make professional development more or less effective both for the participants and, in turn, for the students they teach. In this article, I summarize those characteristics, and draw on one particular model to assess the effectiveness of one model of modern band professional development. This model is a week-long class which has been taught over three summers at two universities. Analyses of open-ended survey responses from participants in the classes reveal characteristics of the class that were effective both for the participating teachers and for their students and improvements that can be made to increase effectiveness.