Successful Recruitment and Retention Strategies of High School Band Directors: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore successful high school band directors’ recruiting strategies. Research questions guiding this study were: 1. What strategic actions have band directors taken to recruit students into their programs? 2. What strategies have increased enrollment? 3. What strategies have not increased enrollment? 4. What collaboration efforts are in place, if any, between high school and middle school directors? I used interviews to examine participants’ experiences in the successful recruitment and retention of students. Participants were public high school band directors selected for their expertise in successfully recruiting students. Twelve participants from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee were selected using the following criteria: the reputation of their program on the marching field and concert stage, tenure in their current building, and the percentage of students enrolled in band classes compared to the overall student body in their building. Semi-structured interviews occurred via Zoom and lasted approximately 30 minutes with each participant. Interview recordings were transcribed and entered into AtlasTi 22 software for analysis. Member checking of interview transcripts and peer review ensured dependability. Findings revealed four major themes: philosophy of the student experience, strategic planning, targeted activities, and building relationships. The encompassing idea was an annual cycle, specifically the cycle of themes interconnecting with each other. This research fills a gap in current literature by documenting effective strategies and philosophies of successful directors, which may inform discussions and contribute to existing research on recruitment and retention strategies.