The Impact of Collegiate Marching Band on the Intra- and Interpersonal Competencies and Capacities of Alumni: A Qualitative Case Study

This qualitative study examines how participation in collegiate marching band impacted alumni’s social and emotional development. Specifically, this study examines (1) how the intra- and interpersonal domains and related competencies of former marching band members (now alumni) developed during their time in a nationally recognized collegiate marching band and (2) how those competencies and capacities are deployed in their post-graduation professional settings. Semi-structured hour-long interviews with marching band alumni (N = 9) who graduated from a medium-sized university in the Mid-Atlantic region (Mid-Atlantic University) were conducted between 2019 and 2021. Participants described the impact of participating in a nationally recognized collegiate marching band on their social and emotional development and indicated growth in the intra- and interpersonal domains. Participants reported how their experiences in collegiate marching band led to heightened intrapersonal self-awareness and self-management levels with significant development in the related capacities of self-confidence, growth mindset, goal setting, perseverance, emotional regulation, and time management. Additionally, participants recounted how collegiate marching band experiences positively impacted their interpersonal social awareness and relationship skills with noted growth in the capacities of empathy, communication, inclusion, and trust-building. Lastly, participants shared how they deployed social and emotional competencies fostered through collegiate marching band participation in their professional environment. Results indicate that collegiate marching band developed intra- and interpersonal competencies and capacities that positively impacted participants’ personal and professional lives. Implications for research, practice, and policy are explored