Enduring effects of a Northeastern Ontario secondary school concert band program

This thesis / dissertation was completed and submitted at Nipissing University, and is made freely accessible through the University of Toronto’s TSpace repositoryThis study investigated a traditional concert band music program in a mid-sized northeastern Ontario secondary school as described in the narratives of 7 former students as well as mine as the band director. The purpose of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of individual learners' needs versus those of the whole ensemble in a concert band setting. The study sought to find evidence of philosophical approaches to education such as holistic education practices, democratic principles, and care ethics in participants' narratives and to use such findings to help establish a quality music performance program dedicated to producing a well-rounded concert band practice and an educational approach that can develop students' appreciation of all forms of music and their ability to take musical learning in multiple directions after secondary school. Analysis and coding of participants' narratives revealed themes corresponding to the physical and social environment, resilience, and a caring social climate. Participants' stories related past experiences of community and interpersonal learnings in a secondary school concert band setting. The narratives offered insights into the camaraderie and social culture of a concert band setting, as well as confidence gained through music performance in a northeastern Ontario high school setting. Understandings and components of holistic design, care ethics, and democratic principles can be inferred from the participant narratives. The storied perspectives in this research highlight social strengths developed within a large ensemble of teenage musicians, and the importance of community in performance-based music education.M.Ed