A Survey of Musical Expectations in the Marine Forces Reserve Band stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana

This research document examines the musical expectations of United States Marines serving in the Marine Forces Reserve Band from 2017 to 2021. Chapter One of this study provides a detailed foundation of the musical and non-musical responsibilities of a United States Marine musician. Training regime, rehearsal schedule, and logistical area responsibilities will be described to help convey the full scope of duty. The source material for Chapter One includes dissertations, journal articles, published books, online sources, and interviews. Chapter Two provides results of a survey that was conducted with members of the band. The questions were designed to record the Marines’ musical backgrounds and determine whether those backgrounds had an effect on their expectations of the musical aspects of being a US Marine musician. This chapter also contains interviews with Marines who led chamber groups within the unit. The interview questions gauge the Marines’ level of prior training to lead an ensemble and it surfaces any potential for conflicts of interest between being a Marine and being a musician. The final chapter of this study analyzes the results of the surveys and interviews to determine how their musical expectations have been influenced by prior training. Through analysis of the surveys and interviews, this document establishes musical expectations for one of the ten United States Marine Corps Fleet Bands. It displays a unique perspective through the voice of United States Marine Corps musicians and their viewpoints can serve as a valuable addition to future research in the field of military music