Retrospective instrument choices among middle school band members.

In our ongoing examination of student instrument choices, we asked 268 band members (grade 6 = 108, grade 7 = 92, grade 8 = 88 representing 139 males and 129 females) to list the instrument they were currently playing , their second favorite instrument, why they chose those instruments, and to rate how well they liked their chosen instruments on a 1-7 scale. Responses were divided into emerging themes: Characteristics of the Instrument (the way the instrument sounds, looks, ease of playing, styles played [1st instrument choice = 128; 2nd instrument choice = 148]); Influence of Others (family, director, friends [1st =77, 2nd = 27]); Comments About Self [audition successes, challenge of learning new things, always wanted to play, desire to be member of a select group [1st = 63, 2nd = 36]); Generalized Positive (fun, cool, favorite [1st = 35; 2nd =35]). No answer or Indecipherable (1st =15; 2nd = 35). Likert scales of preference for selected instruments revealed that students ra