Volume 3, No. 1 September 2005

Phillip M. Hash
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, Michigan

pmh3@calvin.edu

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide a description and analysis of repertoire performed at middle school band contests in northern Illinois. Repertoire from 10 Illinois Grade School Music Association—Northern Division district level contests were analyzed in relation to the frequency pieces were performed, dates of publication, publishers represented, and the inclusion of titles on recommended music lists. All contests were held in 2003 and included a mix of urban, suburban, and rural schools. Among the contest programs analyzed, 81 concert bands from 72 schools performed a total of 243 compositions.

Results indicated 1) 46.1% of the selections were composed by just 9.9% of the total number of composers/arrangers represented, 2) nearly 9.9% of the pieces were composed or arranged by just one person, 3) 29.2% of the literature was less than three years old, and 4) 27.6% of the music was published by a single company. Furthermore, 5) transcriptions and arrangements of historical masterworks accounted for 7.8% of the repertoire, 6) 1.6% of pieces represented music of a non-European culture, and 7) 48.1% of concert selections were included in at least one of the music lists examined. Implications of these findings in relation to national and state learning standards and recommendations for broadening the repertoire programmed for middle school band contests are discussed.

Article and References

Phillip M. Hash, Assistant Professor of Music Education at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a candidate for the Ed. D. in music education at the University of Illinois, and holds a M.M. in wind conducting from Northwestern University, and a B.M. in music education from Millikin University. His professional affiliations include MENC: The National Association for Music Education/Michigan Music Educators Association and the National Band Association. He has recently published articles in Contributions to Music Education, Research and Issues in Music Education, the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, and The Instrumentalist.

Mr. Hash taught instrumental music in northern Illinois for 14 years and has published several instrumental arrangements with Grand Mesa Music, Daehn Publications, and BRS Music. He also serves as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the Chicago area, and is a recipient of a National Band Association Citation of Excellence and the Outstanding Chicagoland Music Educator Award. Bands under his direction have performed at numerous events including the University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival and the Illinois Music Educators Association All State Conference.