Findings from the WRS Survey

During April 2004 WRS conducted a survey of its members and of non-member recorder players in the DC metropolitan area to help us determine future directions for WRS. (Non-members were drawn from the ARS member directory and from lists of former WRS members.) Almost two-thirds of WRS members completed the survey, as did about one-third of the non-member group. Highlights of the findings are presented below.

Not surprisingly, close to 100 percent of both members and non-members say they play alto and soprano recorders. A somewhat higher percentage of non-members than members say they play bass, great bass, and/or sopranino recorder. Among both members and non-members are a few players of crumhorns and other reeds, flutes, harpsichord, and piano. Some in both groups say they sing (but are not soloists.)

While large majorities of both groups classify themselves as intermediate or advanced intermediate players, 30 percent of non-members consider themselves advanced players, compared with 18 percent of WRS members.

Among WRS members, attendance at Antiqua and NOVA meetings is uneven, with about 25 - 30 percent saying they almost always attend and similar percentages saying they never attend. The most common reason for non-attendance is scheduling conflicts or other commitments. Most members drive themselves to WRS sessions.

A high percentage of both members (90 %) and non-members (97 %) report that they have played in a small ensemble group that is not connected with WRS, some with a coach and some without. More than half of both groups say they would like to do more playing in small ensemble groups than they now do. Lack of time and inability to find others to play with are the two most often cited constraints.

About two in three members say they have attended a WRS-sponsored recorder workshop. Several said they were drawn to such workshops by the opportunity to play under the direction of a particular leader.

Here is what members and non-members say they want from an ensemble group or workshop:

1. To have fun, enjoy myself (83 % of members, 73 % of non-members)

2. To improve my recorder techniques (50% of members, 49 % of non-members)

3. To be in a group with people who play at my level (63 % of members, 49 % of non-members)

4. To improve my sight-reading (53 % of members, 27% of non-members)

5. To learn how to perfect a piece for performance (23 % of members, 33 % of non-members)

6. To be in a group with people who play better than I do (28 % of members, 39 % of non-members)

We asked non-members why they are not currently members of WRS. The most salient reasons were scheduling conflicts, membership in other groups (e.g., the Northern Virginia Recorder Society), travel time to meetings, and irrelevance of the program. Enticing non-members to become members of WRS may be a challenge. Many non-members said they would have to resolve scheduling conflicts or distance problems; and some said the program would have to be more stimulating.

Both members and non-members were highly receptive to the notion of WRS hiring a music director - a finding that encouraged us to hire Scott Reiss.

1. More than 80 percent of both groups think the music director should work with the WRS board to develop a program for the year.

2. Larger percentages of both groups (80 -90 %) think the music director should work with the board to plan workshops.

3. Large percentages of both groups (70 - 79 %) think the music director should spend time coaching WRS groups during meetings.

4. Large majorities of both groups do not think it appropriate for the music director to decide which members should play in which groups.

While some members find Monday evenings to be an inconvenient or impossible meeting time, Monday evening works best for the majority of members (73 %.) Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons are not good meeting times for most members. The same is true for weekday mornings and afternoons.

The most salient demographic differences between members and non-members are age and work status. Members are more likely than non-members to be age 70 or older (38% vs. 15%;), and more than twice as many non-members than members work full-time (64% vs. 30%.) More than half of members (53%) are retired, compared with 30 percent of non-members.

Not surprisingly, given the younger profile of non-members and their higher representation in the workforce, email and internet use are higher among non-members than among member (100% vs. 83% for email, and 91% vs. 78% for internet use.) WRS members aged 70 + are less likely than younger members to use email and the Internet.

While a substantial proportion of both members and non-members indicate they would be willing to use the WRS website as a substitute for receiving WRS information by mail, 38 % of members and 30 % of non-members want to receive their information about WRS through the mail.