A comparison of the grading practices of small-school band directors in West Texas

The intent of this study was to determine which techniques of grading are most commonly used for bands in Texas. The experiment design consisted of a single test followed by an observation. The group was a single sample (N = 52). Directors were surveyed at region band tryouts in two regions to collect information regarding grading procedures used in their ensembles. Surveys were distributed and collected on site.

Once collected, the information was organized according to teaching venue (elementary, junior high, and high school), the amount of experience the teachers had, and the directors' degree of satisfaction with their grading policies. Initially, data were analyzed using a chi-square test for multiple samples to determine whether there was a significant difference among the components of the grading policies. Then, data were analyzed to determine between which components the significant differences appear. This researcher hoped to determine the relationship between the directors' satisfaction with the policy, the amount of teaching experience, teaching venue, and each component of the grading system. Results indicated that directors were somewhat consistent in their selection of components for the grading policies, regardless of the degree of satisfaction with said policies, their teaching venue or their years of experience as a teacher