The Status Of Secondary Instrumental Music Education In North Carolina Public Schools PDF Download

Over 1.5 million students are enrolled throughout the 244 school districts within North Carolina public schools (NC Department of Public Instruction, 2018). A recent survey by North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (2016) indicated that approximately 70% of students participate in music. Music included multiple forms of instrumental music such as band and orchestra, as well as vocal music such as chorus and show choir. While 70% of students participate in music, the specific enrollment in string orchestra programs as unclear. This action research study addressed the problem specifically concerning the status of string orchestra programs in North Carolina public schools. Understanding the status of string orchestra programs impacted all stakeholders including teachers, students, parents, and administrators. The purpose of this study was to identify best practice strategies that may contribute to the establishment of new string orchestra programs, as well as how improved recruitment and retention practices may increase enrollment in existing string programs. North Carolina Public School string teachers served as study participants. The research methodology was a qualitative case study. A questionnaire served as the primary sources of data collection. the results of the study indicated that the majority of string teachers are not the same ethnicity as their students. Results also indicated that many participants taught in schools with high populations of students from low-income families. These results are not typical of trends in existing literature. Since this study laid the groundwork to prove that trends in existing literature are not the same in North Carolina, future research may be conducted to follow the patterns of enrollment, recruitment, and retention of string orchestra programs in Title I schools.