Evangelism in modern band

Abstract

Modern band is a relatively new addition to the US music education culture and is attracting attention in K‐12 and tertiary contexts. While popular music education has a longer lineage and deeper roots that precedes modern band, the neophytes associated with the recent proliferation and popularization of modern band present potential challenges to a well-intended group of music educators. In many cases, their enthusiasm outweighs their understanding, and their backgrounds in and interactions with non-modern band contexts reveal an intercultural dilemma in which students, teachers, music teacher candidates and music teacher educators are entwined and potentially ill-informed. Nonetheless, modern band continues to spread and gain traction within the profession. This article explores modern band through a framework of evangelism and highlights some of its dynamic sociological practices such as conversion, neophytes and missionaries. Furthermore, this article provides some suggestions and recommendations to address some of these challenges.