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A field study on marching band members' workload assessment.
1School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
Work (Reading, Mass.)
|December 16, 2020
Summary
Marching band players experience varying workloads and discomfort based on their role and experience level. Novice players and leaders reported higher cognitive demands and physical discomfort, while gender did not significantly impact these factors.
Area of Science:
- Music Performance Science
- Occupational Health
- Sports Science
Background:
- Marching band activities involve significant physical and cognitive demands.
- The impact of these demands on marching band players remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how experience level, role, and gender affect marching band player workload.
- To quantify discomfort and workload in marching band performers.
Main Methods:
- A field study was conducted with the Oregon State University Marching Band (OSUMB).
- Surveys collected data on discomfort and workload ratings during a game day.
- Independent variables included experience level, role (leader/non-leader), and gender.
Main Results:
- Novice players reported higher left-hand discomfort and cognitive demand than experienced players.
- Leaders experienced greater neck/upper back discomfort and higher performance/overall workload ratings than non-leaders.
- Gender did not significantly influence discomfort or workload, though trends were observed.
Conclusions:
- Player role and experience level are significant factors influencing workload and discomfort in marching bands.
- Gender does not appear to be a significant factor in workload or discomfort for marching band members.
