Perceived Problems and Advantages Associated with Teaching Band in Rural Northern New York
School of Music, Liberty University
How they used Delve
A doctoral candidate in Liberty University's School of Music used Delve to code open-ended Google Forms survey responses from 37 band directors in rural northern New York and ten follow-up interviews, in a grounded theory study of the perceived problems and advantages of teaching band in rural schools. Line-by-line open coding in Delve produced 480 coded segments, with descriptive and in-vivo codes grouped into axial codes.
“Using the coding program Delve, the researcher created codes that identified reoccurring themes using a line-by-line approach. The coding process also included the use of descriptive and in-vivo codes. [...] Transcripts were classified into individual segments using the DelveTool website. The researcher identified 480 unique segments from participant interviews and survey responses.”
- Field
- music education, rural education
- Data
- Open-ended online survey (Google Forms) answered by 37 band directors in rural northern New York, plus 10 follow-up interviews
- Approach
- Grounded theory (Charmaz cited): line-by-line open coding with descriptive and in-vivo codes, axial coding, theoretical coding, theoretical saturation checks, member checking
- Data types
- Open-ended survey responses, Interviews
Abstract
Teaching instrumental music in rural northern New York presents unique advantages and problems for music educators. While most research highlights obstacles to teaching in a rural area, this study identifies the unique positive aspects of working in this environment. Educators often overlook the opportunities and benefits within small, rural schools. Directors and students can define and find success in multiple ways within these rural band programs. This qualitative study examines the opinions, feelings, and experiences of those who teach band in rural northern New York. The research focuses on the perceived advantages of directing an instrumental ensemble in a rural setting. Teachers may succeed through program growth, community involvement, or close relationships among students and staff within a school. These schools often utilize many local and community resources that may not be available in suburban or urban areas. Surveys distributed to band directors in northern New York provide perspectives into teaching practices and current successes and challenges affecting educators. Results from this grounded theory study can guide professional development, music education advocacy organizations, and self-reflection among educators. This study can also aid in developing teacher recruitment strategies in rural school districts.
Citation
Joseph Charles Ianaconi (2023). Perceived Problems and Advantages Associated with Teaching Band in Rural Northern New York. Digital Commons (Liberty University).