The effect of an attrition intervention program on middle school band students: An action research study

During the transition from middle school to high school, there continues to be occurrences in which ISD Middle School band students decide not to continue in the ISD High School band program. The viability of the ISD High School Band program depends on a significant increase of band students from feeder schools such as ISD Middle School, which reinforces the TISD's rationale for offering such experiences for its students. The findings of the current study provide insight to band directors, music educators, school administrators, school boards, parents, and the greater community concerned for well-balanced curriculums and education of the whole child (Jolly, 2008). Therefore, the purpose of the current action research study was to implement an intervention to improve the transition of middle school band students to high school and to study the effects of the intervention. To address this issue, the generic qualitative inquiry research design within the participatory action research format was used. Given the nature of the research problem and research questions, the researcher depended on interviews, surveys, questionnaires, and observations to collect data for analysis. Based on the significance of prominent themes, and patterns within the research participants' responses, factors contributing to the attrition of middle school band students during their transition to the high school band include: (a) personal issues such as academic failure or lack of transitional preparation; (b) administrative issues such as course offerings that are not band friendly or the lack of administrative/teacher support; (c) teacher issues such as using inappropriate instructional methods/resources or a non-existing relationship with the teacher; and (d) home issues such as a poor home environment or the lack of parental support. Recommendations to band directors and key educational leadership stakeholders are to: (a) foster a collaborative relationship between the middle school band director(s) and the high school band director(s); (b) encourage an early relationship between the high school band director(s) and the middle school band students; (c) provide high school band activities tailored to include middle school band student participation; (d) develop an early relationship between the target high school and the middle school; and (e) encourage the high school band parents to develop a relationship with the middle school band parents.