A Comparison of Variables in Arizona Marching Band Festival Results

David A. Rickels, Boise State University

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between scores at high school marching band festivals during the fall 2004 Arizona marching season and 16 contributing variables of participating bands. Directors of 115 schools that participated in such festivals were invited by electronic mail to complete a questionnaire using the internet, and 76% responded (N = 87). Using Pearson product-moment coefficients, ANOVA tests, and t tests, the variables found to have significant relationships with festival scores included marching band budget, total band-program budget, number of part-time assistant/non-certified marching staff, marching band enrollment, total band program enrollment, number of festivals attended, school enrollment, and concurrence of concert band programs. Analyses of the variables of teacher's years of experience, teacher's years at current school, number of full-time certified staff instructing the marching band, rehearsal hours per week, school geographic locale, internal program co-participation requirements, school Title I status, or director's rank of marching band priority among other band programs did not reveal any significant relationships to festival scores.