“A Night I'll Never Forget”: A Phenomenological Investigation of a High School Alumni Marching Band

Abstract Many researchers have described the benefits of music participation, both at the kindergarten to 12th grade level and in adulthood. Despite these benefits, most school music alumni do not continue their music participation after high school graduation. In this phenomenological study, I investigated a high school alumni marching band event that garnered a high level of interest and engagement in order to better understand elements of participants’ motivations to engage with the event as well as their experiences during it. Results indicated that participants’ overall experience was focused on a sense of collective, nostalgic accomplishment. Structural elements including ease of access to the event, the community context in which the event took place, and a sense of social media virality helped to shape the experience for participants. These results may suggest ways in which organizers can stimulate increased engagement in musical activities designed for adults.