Conducting research often can seem like falling down a rabbit hole. One study answers initial questions, the analysis and implications lead to more questions…lather, rinse, and repeat for forever. This research is the embodiment of using one research study as the basis for another.

Using One Study to Confirm Findings

For Dr. Amy Bovin, an initial study during her Ph.D. program at The University of Hartford’s The Hartt School exploring the experiences of female high school band directors left her wondering if the themes in her study were experienced by female high school band directors across the United States. The nature of qualitative research, or research that uses interviews, is that you’re often left with more questions than answers. Which is why Dr. Bovin’s dissertation research was quantitative research, or research that uses numbers. Both types of research are important, but the distinction often is that qualitative research leaves you with questions and quantitative research leaves you with answers (for the most part).

Dr. Bovin found in her exploration of existing research that the numbers of female high school band directors had decreased from 2001 to 2015, and she was curious as to the factors that may be contributing to this decline. Additionally, Dr. Bovin was curious as to what these teachers’ experiences were, how they conceptualized longevity as female high school band directors, and what factors contributed to them remaining in or leaving their positions as high school band directors.

Who was Surveyed?

According to the data that Dr. Bovin explored, there were approximately 2,300 high school band directors who identified as female. To reach the most people possible, Dr. Bovin used Facebook, Facebook Groups, and contact information available through NAfME. At the end of collecting responses, there were 1,026 people who had taken the survey (roughly 50% of those who identify as female in high school band jobs across the country).

What was Found?

Though each participant’s reasons for becoming a high school band director varied, most decided that they wanted to be a high school director when they were in high school themselves. The teachers who wanted to remain in the profession did so because of (1) their positive experiences and interactions with others and (2) their love for music, band, their students, and their jobs. However, the teachers who were considering leaving or actively making plans to leave their positions identified four reasons for wanting to leave: (1) motherhood and time commitments, (2) harassment or extreme negative experiences and interactions with others, (3) sexism, and (4) ageism.

So what? Why Should You Care?

Although 42.9% of participants in Dr. Bovin’s survey stated that they were planning to remain in their position, 57.2% of participants indicated that they were unsure about leaving or planning to leave their position. In my conversation with Dr. Bovin, I was shocked that there was a strong connection between participants who were unsure about or planning to leave the profession and those who strongly agreed with the statement “I love band.” In the era after #MeToo and the strong push to diversify the field, it seems as though female band directors are leaving or considering leaving the profession at an alarming rate.

What Dr. Bovin suggested after examining the results of her survey was that there is a need to create a strong support system for each other regardless of age, experience, or demographic. Dr. Bovin said that when presenting the findings from her dissertation, she is always clear to not assign a gender when discussing negative interactions with colleagues – this isn’t gender-specific. While some men in the field are the cause of some negative interactions for their female colleagues, there was a lot of women-on-women crime in the field.

I think the biggest “so what?” takeaway from Dr. Bovin’s research is understanding what support systems need to be in place both personally and professionally to help female band directors remain in their positions long-term.

Using the Research to Help

In the current social climate, there is a push to make sure the field of music is diverse and reflective of the needs of our students. However, the only way to ensure that diversity remains an important goal is to not assume things have to stay the same. Become part of the change, be the support system you want/need, and don’t just acknowledge that things need to change—actually help to make changes!

A lot of people have great experiences in their own high school band programs, which is why there will continue to be students who want to become high school teachers. However, staying in the field only happens if teachers have support from colleagues, enjoy going into work every day, and continue to love music, their students, and their jobs!

And while Dr. Bovin’s findings are specific to individuals who identify as female and work as high school band directors, her work will hopefully continue to have implications for all music teachers. The information that Dr. Bovin collected is one giant leap in helping to eliminate discrimination and harassment from the profession. And my conversation with her left me feeling hopeful that through all the difficulties, change is possible as long as we know what and how to change.

If you would like to read Dr. Bovin’s dissertation in full, please reach out to her directly to eliminate any potential barriers in accessing the document.

Do you have research to contribute to this column? Submit with this link so that I can share what you’ve created in a future column.

More about the Author of this Research

Dr. Amy Bovin is the current President of Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA), the Connecticut State representative for Women’s Band Directors International, and the Regional Representative for the Southwest/Rocky Mountains region of the Practicing Musician Professional Roundtable (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming). More information at Dr. Bovin can be found at her personal website.

Dr. Bovin is currently working to expand upon the findings from her dissertation in a new survey that is open to choir teacher in the United States (any level!!). If this is you, please feel free to go complete her survey!