Little is known about post-secondary band students' growth in musical independence, nor have the relationships between ensemble placement, year in school, gender, and instrument family been documented. Little research is available regarding the effects of instrument family (on which the student performs) or gender on the development of musical independence among music majors. Additionally, previous studies have identified a drop in music achievement test scores for college music majors as they progress from their freshman to sophomore or sophomore to junior years. This study attempts to address and evaluate these issues.The introduction presents a brief overview of the purpose and importance of the study. The review of related literature explores musical independence and the assessment of musical independence, as well as relationships between musical independence, ensemble placement, related listening skills, gender, and instrument family.Richard Colwell's Music Achievement Test 3 and Music Achievement Test 4 were administered to 354 band students at Ball State University, Florida State University, and Wichita State University. Test scores and demographic data including school, student identification number (usually a social security number), top ensemble in which the student participated (1st, 2nd, or 3rd), college major (music major or non-music major), year in school (freshman through graduate student), gender (male or female), and instrument family (woodwind, brass, or percussion) were collected. Data was entered into Statview II, a statistical analysis program for the Macintosh computer. Data was analyzed using ANOVA, Scheffe, and permutation analysis. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations for additional research were made. / School of Music

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From introduction: The decision to use the term "Wind Band" in connection with this work was made after much careful deliberation. The English word "Band" is derived from the French "bande" meaning a group of players. It was first applied in this context in England when the Twenty-four Violins at the Court of Charles II (in emulation of "Le Vingt-quatre Violons du Roi at the Court of Louis XIV of France) were known in England as "The King's Band "Band" is a title generally given at the present time to any of instrumentalists, and indeed, many of the World's most famous conductors have been known to refer to any large symphony orchestra as "The Band" and the dressing-room of every Symphony or Concert orchestra in the British Isles is invariably called "The Band-Room"

Although this paper will attempt to answer numerous questions pertaining to the junior high and elementary instrumental music program it is hoped that it will be especially beneficial to one particular area or community. That area will be comprised of the Shenandoah Junior High School, Miami, and its three neighboring elementary schools. The instrumental music organizations in the high school and the junior high school of this community have enjoyed serving the cultural and aesthetic potential of both its students and parents for many years. The community in turn has responded by enthusiastically supporting both a band and an orchestral program in these two schools. / Advisor: Robert L. Briggs, Professor Directing Paper. / "A Paper." / Typescript. / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music Education." / Includes bibliographical references.