LEARNING FROM OUR NEIGHBOURS: A MULTILEVEL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES IN THE MARITIME PROVINCES OF CANADA

Master of Education (Curriculum Studies) candidate: Jennifer Purdue Meldrum

20 February 2026

10:00 AM Atlantic

Hybrid Defence

KCIC Classroom

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Meeting ID: 289 565 099 030 64
Passcode: et2Gy9pG

Thesis Committee:

Drs. Tristan De Borba & Ardith Haley, Supervisors
Dr. Katie Tremblay, CBU, External Examiner
Dr. Krissy Keech, Internal Examiner
Dr. Can Mutlu, Chair of the defence

Abstract

This mixed-methods multiple case study gathered data on the status of instrumental ensembles in public schools in the Maritime provinces of Canada: New Brunswick (NB), Nova Scotia (NS), and Prince Edward Island (PEI). A voluntary, primarily open-response survey was distributed to teachers in participating districts and shared on social media. Responses were analysed using descriptive coding (Miles et al. 2014) and chi-squared tests of independence. Teachers reported 32 types of instrumental ensembles. The presence of ensembles varied significantly according to province, with NB having fewer than NS and PEI. NB had significantly fewer elementary and middle-level ensembles, and fewer concert bands than the other provinces. Most concert bands in NB were extracurricular-only, which is the opposite of the other provinces. NS had the greatest diversity of ensemble types and twice the proportion of jazz bands than the other provinces. PEI had the greatest enrollment in concert bands and three times the proportion of rock bands found in the other provinces. There was no statistically significant difference in the existence of ensembles between rural and urban areas, or between anglophone and francophone schools. The survey found that small schools can support large ensembles. Teachers in NB and NS were generally concerned with the state of instrumental education in their provinces, while PEI teachers were satisfied with theirs. Possible explanations for provincial differences include the absence of an instrumental music curriculum in NB, a preference for choral music in NB elementary and middle schools, the impact of Sistema New Brunswick, reduced music professional learning in NB, teacher qualifications, administrator support, dedicated funding for music (PEI has the most, NB has the least), and the impact of music course choice (in NS and PEI) versus mandatory general music (in NB) at the middle level. This survey provides information for music teachers for the purposes of awareness and advocacy and establishes a baseline for future research.

About Jennifer…

Jennifer Purdue Meldrum is the music teacher at Nackawic High School in Nackawic, NB. She is in her ninth year of teaching, and also has some experience teaching elementary and middle school. Jennifer represents Western New Brunswick on the New Brunswick Band Association provincial executive and was Vice President of the New Brunswick Music Educators Association from 2020 to 2023. Jennifer was born and raised in Fredericton, where she grew up playing saxophone in her school concert and jazz bands, and occasionally playing guitar in popular music groups for Coffee House performances. Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Science from Mount Allison University in 2016. At Mount Allison, Jennifer concentrated in music education, but also gave credited recitals on saxophone and played various woodwind instruments in university ensembles. Since graduating and moving back to Fredericton to attend St. Thomas University for her Bachelor of Education, she has played in various community concert bands, jazz bands, and musical pit orchestras. Jennifer also enjoys playing piano and guitar in informal settings. Instrumental music education is Jennifer's passion, which is what led her to Acadia University and to pursuing this thesis research.