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ORCID
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2784-0778
Date of Graduation
5-9-2024
Semester of Graduation
Spring
Degree Name
Master of Music (MM)
Department
School of Music
Second Advisor
William Dabback
Third Advisor
Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy
Fourth Advisor
Laura Sider Jost
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to articulate the experiences of former band students related to sexual misconduct among students and between staff and students. Researchers and investigators have claimed that band professionals have prioritized performance level and musical accomplishment over the safety and well-being of students (Office of University Compliance and Integrity, 2014; Nadolny, 2018; Wells, 2022). Authors of studies related to sexual misconduct in U.S. Bands have also suggested that educators in the band profession prefer to handle sexual misconduct “in-house” (Wells, 2022) and that, in general, teachers may be the least likely group to report educator sexual misconduct (Tate, 2020) in spite of federal laws that classify teachers as mandated reporters (Grant, Wilkerson et al., 2019). The researcher conducted a nationwide survey using snowball sampling to identify former band students who were active in U.S. band programs between 2008 and 2018. Volunteers from the survey participated in follow-up interviews, which the researcher used to examine the human impact of sexual misconduct on former band students and their views on band culture. Through this phenomenological mixed-methods study the researcher explored the impacts on band students who have witnessed the mishandling of sexual misconduct and the extent to which participants consider their experiences with sexual misconduct in U.S. band programs to be common. Discussion and recommendations for further research conclude the document.
