A Content Analysis of Nine Beginner Band Method Books

Method books in a beginner band class often serve as the curriculum and the primary source of instructional material for learning to play an instrument during the foundational years. While method books provide an opportunity to motivate beginners, scaffold instruction, and introduce students to concert band repertoire, teachers should also consider how method books support an inclusive and culturally responsive instrumental music classroom. The purpose of this study was to analyze the content of nine widely distributed beginner band method books to determine the patterns of repertoire included. Method book melodies were analyzed for composer demographics, countries of origin, and categories of repertoire. Data revealed a continued emphasis on melodic material derived from the Western canon, White male composers, and Anglo-American cultures, including a high prevalence of songs from blackface minstrelsy. We offer recommendations regarding the need for more diverse musical materials at the beginner band level.