An analysis of beginning to intermediate percussion methods used in selected public schools and their relationship to the performance requirements of state-approved band literature

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between beginning to intermediate percussion books from contemporary band methods and the performance requirements of levels III-VI band literature typically programmed by high school ensembles in concert, contest, and festival situations.;Contemporary band composers have written with increasing frequency and fluency for percussion instruments. In turn, this has lead to a demand for more comprehensively trained student percussionists. For this reason, there is a need for an examination of whether the skills student percussionists are taught in elementary and middle school percussion classes are what they actually need to know in order to successfully perform levels III-VI band literature.;A major issue involving contemporary band directors and instrumental music teachers in the area of percussion instruction is specialization. This is a situation in which a student learns to perform on a particular percussion instrument, such as snare drum, and remains on that instrument throughout his or her public school performing career. This study examines the extent to which specialization influences the content of percussion method books as well as the performance requirements of levels III-VI band literature.;The sample of percussion books from band methods was taken from the results of a survey of 150 middle school band directors in three separate geographic locations in the United Sates, 50 each in Florida, Illinois, and Massachusetts.;Schools for the survey were randomly selected from the web-site of the American School Directory. Method books were examined for presentation of skills, concepts, and instruments. The reason for this was to provide a basis for examination of the efficacy of the method books in preparing elementary and middle school percussionists to successfully perform typical high school band music literature.;Content analyses were performed on the four method book series most frequently cited in the survey as being in current use in middle school instrumental music programs. These method book series were examined for sequence of skills, concepts, and instruments presented in their texts, as well as their musical and educational scope.;In order to examine the extent of the relationship between elementary to intermediate percussion method books and performance practices, 100 intermediate to advanced band works were analyzed for number of percussion players and instruments required, as well as percussion technique requirements. Works were randomly selected from the approved concert band literature list of the New York State School Association.;The final portion of the study is devoted to a discussion of conclusions from the survey and content analyses of method book series and band literature. In addition, recommendations are made for improving the musical and educational content of percussion method books, as well as facilitating the training of future music educators in undergraduate percussion skills classes.