The Band Played On: Predicting Students' Intentions to Continue Studying Music

Abstract

A model predicting student intentions to continue in a high school band program was developed and tested. Past research indicates that socioeconomic level and academic competency predict musical aptitude and achievement; these factors may also predict intentions to continue studying music or continue participating in a band program. Factors that may mediate the relation between socioeconomic level, intellectual competency, and intentions—such as students' attitudes toward the band program and their extracurricular musical activities—were also examined. Students provided information about their socioeconomic levels, current grades, attributions for performance in band class, extracurricular musical activities, and perceptions of the attitudes of their parents, band teachers, and the school toward the band program. In addition, band teachers evaluated each student's performance in band. Structural equation modeling indicated that socioeconomic level and teacher evaluations predicted intentions to continue both directly and indirectly through students' outside musical activities and through support for the program by their parents, band teachers, and the school. Implications of these findings for band instruction and suggestions for future research are presented.