Band v. s. Grades - Jessica Thorpe

Problem What effect does playing a band instrument have on the grades that you get in your core classes?

Introduction I’ve always wondered what affects your grades. Over the past two years, I have noticed that the people in band had better grades. I wondered if that was true, so I started to investigate.

Background Information The word “band” means a group of musicians organized to play together. This word is derived from the French word “bande”. A band, as the term is most broadly understood, is one of two types, marching band and concert band. A concert band is lead by a conductor, but a marching band is usually lead by a drum major.

Background Information (Continued) Because concert bands play while sitting down, they can use a wider variety of instruments. In addition to those instruments played by marching bands, concert bands also use such instruments as the cello, double bass, timpani, harp, chimes, xylophone, and the vibraphone. Country and western bands often include the harmonica, guitar, banjo, and the fiddle. A jazz band is made up of two distinct groups: a rhythm section most often consisting of drums, string bass, (or tuba), guitar, (or banjo), and piano, or a melody most often consisting of trumpets, trombones, clarinets, and saxophones.

Hypothesis I predict that the people who play a band instrument will do better in their core classes because I noticed that over the past two years the kids who participate in band had good grades, (A’s and B’s).

Variables Controlled Variable: No Time Limit, Dependant Variable: Test Score, Independent Variable: Band or No Band

Materials –Answer Key and Pen –Calculator (to determine %) –12 tests –12 test subjects (6 in band and 6 not in band) –Computer

Procedure –Write out test, (the test has a mix of the four core classes). –Hand out tests to test subjects during the school day, and have them complete the test without calculator, –Grade tests with answer key, and put the results into the computer,

Major Observations I noticed that the students that are in band got better scores than the students that are not in band. The students that were not in band seemed to not care, and they didn’t try very hard.

Results

Conclusion My hypothesis was correct. The people in band seemed to have better test scores.

Possible Applications Research shows that you most kids do better in school when they play a band instrument. That is why some parents make their kids play a band instrument, or take choir.

Possible Causes of Error - Students tested at different times a day, - Some students have different backgrounds

Further Research - Time Spent – 18+ Hours With time, we can figure out an easier, simpler way to help kids who don’t do so well in school.

Sources thebandinfo.com en.wikipedia.org/wiki/band

Acknowledgements Thanks for the students who took time out of their school day to take my tests.