title: An Appraisal of Music Programs in the Public Schools of Utah
Creators: name: Palmer, Jarvis Page
Publisher: name: Utah State University
Year: 1969

description: This study was based upon the assumption that there was a need to discover current practices in Utah music education programs. The purpose of the study was to gather data relevant to the status of music programs in the elementary, junior high, and senior high schools of Utah and to evaluate and interpret the data in relation to selected criteria.
School size and geographic location were established as variables upon the assumption that large schools generally provide more comprehensive programs than smaller schools and that schools located in large population and cultural centers generally provide more comprehensive programs then those located away from these centers in more remote areas.
The forty school districts were divided into eight regions. A questionnaire for purposes of comparison was constructed in three sections: elementary, junior high, and senior high . Each section requested information in the areas of content and sequence, personnel, time allotment and scheduling, and facilities and instructional materials. Freedom to express general ideas was given in "open-ended' questions.
The sample comprised the 403 elementary, 82 junior high, and 84 senior high schools listed in the Utah Public Schools Directory, 1967-68.
The permission of the district superintendents was obtained to carry out the study. The questionnaire , with a letter of explanation to the principal and a letter of endorsement from the State Department of Education, was mailed to each principal. Questionnaires were returned by 73 percent of the elementary, 91 percent of the junior high, and 93 percent of the high schools.
Utah data were tabulated, processed, and presented in a series of tables with explanations and interpretations of the data. The data were compared to the evaluative criteria and results presented.
There was great variation among the schools according to school size and geographic location. The data revealed that more comprehensive music programs were generally provided in larger schools than in smaller schools and that more isolated schools away from large population and cultural centers offered fewer activities in music education than those located in the larger population centers.
Regions I, II, and III, located along the Wasatch Front, comprise large population centers and generally provide comprehensive music programs. In these regions the elementary schools devoted sufficient time to the study of music in all grades and most of the schools offered choral and instrumental experiences. The junior high schools provided general music classes and opportunities to study instrumental and choral music. The high schools provided specialized music classes and choral and instrumental music groups. Regions IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII are located away from the Wasatch Front and large cultural centers and provide limited opportunities for the study of music and music performance. The limitations included insufficient time allotments in elementary music classes, lack of a variety cf music experiences in elementary general music classes, lack of participation in elementary instrumental and choral groups, and lack of string programs at all levels.
Lack of teacher specialization and training, consultant services and supervision, instructional materials and facilities were among the more serious limitations within smaller and more isolated schools and school districts.
Elementary principals reported dissatisfaction with the elementary music program in marginal notes on the questionnaire. They state that the classroom teacher is unprepared to teach music, that supervision is not adequate, and that the principal can do nothing to help.
Recommendations centered around a written philosophy statement, provision of music guides, the elementary music program, percentage of student enrollment in high school music, general music requirements, specialized music classes, a variety of music experiences in general music and in performing groups, supervision, time allotments, materials, and equipment.