| Summary |
The purpose of this study was to determine the status of beginning/intermediate concert bands for mature adults, 50 years of age and older, in the United States of America including the U. S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. A band was considered a mature adult band if over 50% of the band members were over age 50 and if the band performed on either a beginning or an intermediate level; advanced level was not considered. Two steps were used to gather information for the research. The first step was to conduct a survey to identify the existence and location of beginning/intermediate concert bands for mature adults. A total of 1,728 surveys was mailed to band directors of United States colleges and universities, community bands and orchestras located from a world wide web page, and to members of the 1995-96 American Bandmasters Association's Task Force on Adult Bands. The rate of response to the survey was 80%, and the results identified 39 bands as being a beginning/intermediate concert band for mature adults. Step two consisted of a questionnaire that was sent to the 39 mature adult concert bands that were identified. One band disbanded and was not included in the research. One band did not respond. Therefore, 37 questionnaires of the 38 were completed for a percentage of 97.4%. Specific topics investigated were: the number of beginning and intermediate mature adult bands, the location of the bands (state and region), general information, rehearsals, funding, budget, instrumentation, literature, performances, special considerations, attrition, age limit, and director information. The data were analyzed by examining the responses to each question. Tables, as well as figures, were used to report the results. These results were given in percentages and/or averages. Open-ended responses and titles of musical compositions performed were included. Recommendations for starting a band and future research were provided. |
