Current Research Projects

Rickels, D. A. (in progress). A multivariate analysis of non-performance variables in marching band competition results in the United States. Dissertation, Arizona State University.

Rickels, D. A. (2007). Perceptions of a career in music education: The high school student's voice.

• (2007 September). Poster session presented at the biennial conference of the Society for Music Teacher Education, Greensboro, NC.
• (2007 April). Poster session presented at the ArtsWork Arts Education Graduate Student Research Symposium, Tempe, AZ.

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine influences on high school music students’ decisions about pursing a career in music education.  Participants were selected from the 11th and 12th grades of four high school music programs, representing band, choir, and orchestra participation.  After responding to an initial survey, six participants were purposefully selected for a series of interviews.  Based on the data collected, several themes emerged that were similar or distinctive between participants in the way that they related their personal career influences.  These themes included a passion for music performance, altruistic feelings about sharing a music experience with others, and influences of key role models.

Rickels, D. A. (2006). A comparison of contributing variables in marching band festival results. Manuscript submitted for publication.

• (2006 April). Poster session presented at the biennial conference of MENC: The National Association for Music Education, Salt Lake City, UT.
• (2006 March). Paper presented at the ArtsWork Arts Education Graduate Student Research Symposium, Tempe, AZ.
• (2006 January). Poster session presented at the annual conference of the Arizona Music Educators Association, Mesa, AZ.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between scores at high school marching band festivals during the fall 2004 Arizona marching season and 16 contributing variables of participating bands.  Directors of 115 schools that participated in such festivals were invited by electronic mail to complete a questionnaire using the internet, and 76% responded (n = 87).  Using Pearson product-moment coefficients, ANOVA tests, and t tests, the variables found to have significant relationships with festival scores included marching band budget, total band-program budget, number of part-time assistant/non-certified marching staff, marching band enrollment, total band program enrollment, number of festivals attended, school enrollment, and concurrence of concert band programs.  Analyses of the variables of teacher’s years of experience, teacher’s years at current school, number of full-time certified staff instructing the marching band, rehearsal hours per week, school geographic locale, internal program co-participation requirements, school Title I status, or director’s rank of marching band priority among other band programs did not reveal any significant relationships to festival scores.