The purpose of this study was to examine the literature being performed by Florida middle school, junior/senior high school, and high school jazz bands at Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) District Jazz Band Music Performance Assessments (MPAs) from 2012-2017. More specifically, this study sought to address: (1) What pieces were played at FBA District Jazz Band MPAs between 2012-2017? (2) What composers were played most frequently at FBA District Jazz Band MPAs between 2012-2017? (3) What arrangers were played most frequently FBA District Jazz Band MPAs between 2012-2017? (4) What percentage of secondary schools in the state of Florida with an FBA classification attended FBA District Jazz Band MPA between the years 2012-2017 and how many ensembles performed each year? and (5) What ratings were earned at FBA District Jazz Band MPAs between 2012-2017? Data from this study came from a pool of pieces performed by middle school, junior/senior high school, and high school bands at FBA District Jazz Band MPA between 2012-2017 (N = 6,076). Due to one of this study’s purposes being to analyze the average ratings that were earned, groups with the classification of “Comments Only” or DNA (Did Not Appear) were not included in this study. Additionally, data from directors who did not enter all of the necessary title and composer information for their program or who left their pieces listed as ‘TBA’ were not included in this study. Of the 6,076 pieces in the pool, 5,664 pieces were able to be used in the literature analysis in this study. The researcher used the FBA website (Florida Bandmasters Association, 2018) to look up concert programs from FBA District Jazz Band MPAs from 2012-2017 from all of the 21 districts in the state of Florida. The following information, found in the concert programs, was entered into the data collection sheet: name of piece, composer, arranger, performing school, performing school’s classification, and the overall rating earned by the performing ensemble. Of the 5,664 pieces performed at FBA District Jazz Band MPA between 2012-2017, there were 1,816 unique compositions played. The compositions of 619 different composers and 249 different arrangers were performed at FBA District Jazz Band MPA. Additionally, 47.78% of schools involved in FBA brought at least one jazz band to perform at FBA District Jazz Band MPA between 2012-2017 and the number of pieces performed and bands that performed at FBA District Jazz Band MPAs increased every year during the five-year span of data analyzed. The vast majority of bands that performed at these FBA District Jazz Band MPAs (93.77%) earned the two highest ratings, Superior or Excellent. Additionally, there were no bands that received the lowest two ratings, Fair or Poor. Overall, findings from this study suggest that secondary school jazz bands in the state of Florida are growing in popularity. Additionally, many of the jazz ensembles performed what are frequently considered jazz standards and works by well-known jazz composers. However, due to the presence of multiple composers knowing for their concert band compositions for younger developing bands at the top of the frequently performed list, it seems that more quality jazz literature and arrangements may be needed for younger, developing bands. Further results and implications are discussed within the paper.
