College Band Directors Research Articles

Problems of the Small College Band

THIS is the first of two articles on the small college band which have been written for the Music Educators Journal at the request of the Committee on Public Relations of the College Band Directors National Association, an Associated Organization of the Music Educators National Conference. Mr. Whear is director of instrumental music at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. The second article will deal with the band in the small tax-supported college and will appear in an early issue. Chairman of the CBDNA committee on public relations is Arthur L. Williams, The Conservatory of Music, Oberlin College, Ohio.

The College Band Directors National Association

The College Band Directors National Association

Characteristics of Clarinet Tones

Extensive tests were made to determine the characteristic differences between clarinet tones judged by musicians to be acceptable or unacceptable. A research committee from the College Band Directors' National Association collaborated in the evaluations as well as other musicians in many sections of the United States. It is indicated that musicians are generally in close agreement and their subjective ratings are largely determined by the harmonic content of the tones. Tape recordings and a tone analyzer will be used in presenting the paper.

Another Spotlight on the Music Copyright Law: A Report from a Meeting of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association

Another Spotlight on the Music Copyright Law: A Report from a Meeting of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association

College Band Directors National Association

College Band Directors National Association

Characteristics of Cornet Tones

Extensive tests were made to determine the characteristic differences between cornet tones judged by musicians to be acceptable or unacceptable. A research committee from the College Band Directors National Association collaborated in the evaluation tests with the cooperation of some of America's finest musicians. A valid group of judges was determined on the basis of repeatability and range of judgments. Musicians in the valid group were generally in close agreement. Where serious disagreement existed, a change in the quality of the tone during its production was usually found. Analysis of the tones used revealed the relationship between the subjective ratings and the following: the dynamics, the harmonic structure, and the formants. Other information was obtained as a by-product of the tests. Included were such things as: the relationship between the harmonic content and the musician's descriptive terms, such as, “bright” and “dark” tones; the difference between cornet and trumpet tones; and trends that may be expected in the tones produced by other wind instruments. Demonstrations will be used in presenting the paper.

The College Band Directors National Association

The College Band Directors National Association

College Band Directors Conference

College Band Directors Conference

Some Related Subjective and Objective Measurements on Cornet Tones

In collaboration with a committee from the College Band Directors Association, studies were made to determine if standards could be established regarding acceptable and unacceptable cornet tones. Tests were conducted to determine degree of agreement among musicians as to the classification of tones if possible. Harmonic analyses of the contents of these tones were made to determine the physical characteristic differences between tones in the two major classifications. A variety of tones produced by man-blown and machine-blown cornets were studied to determine the primary essentials of producing acceptable or unacceptable tones. A preliminary report on the results of these studies will be presented using three-dimensional representations of tones, slides, and tape recordings.

A Word about the College Band Directors National Association

A Word about the College Band Directors National Association

The British Brass Band

THE AUTHOR of this article, who is associate professor of history, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, touches on two items which are common to the current agenda of music educators’ “shop talk.” In discussion, formal and informal, the word “contests” and its varients frequently occur. And, especially since the appearance of Chicago's Salvation Army Brass Band at the 1950 national convention of the College Band Directors National Association, there has been a much higher usage frequency of the term “brass band”—which to many people has been no more than a term loosely applied to all wind bands.

College Band Directors

College Band Directors

College Band Directors National Association

College Band Directors National Association

College Band Directors National Association

College Band Directors National Association

College Band Directors National Association

College Band Directors National Association

College Band Directors National Association, Chicago, December 19-20, 1947

College Band Directors National Association, Chicago, December 19-20, 1947