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Attitudes of High School Band Directors and Principals Toward Marching Band Contests

This study consisted of a mailed survey of 421 high school band programs. The band director and principal in each school received a separate questionnaire with similar items rating the value of six aspects of marching band contests. Sixty-two percent of the bands participated in marching band contests. Differences were found in the annual number of contests entered according to geographic area. The West was highest in contests entered annually (M = 2.75 contests per band) and the Midwest was lowest (M = 1.00 contest per band). Principals rated the contests highest in improving public relations for the school. Band directors rated the contests highest in terms of personal benefits to students and lowest in terms of improving students' musical skills and knowledge. Principals and band directors differed significantly in their attitudes toward marching band contests, with principals' ratings being generally higher than those of band directors.