This paper analyzes the relationship between MI (musical independence) and placement in college instrumental ensembles and presented from 3 achievement tests administered to 354 excellent postsecondary instrumental students. Findings are presented from three achievement tests administered to 354 instrumentalists participating in Ball State University, Florida State University, and Wichita State University bands. The tests used in the study are the Instrumental College Survey-2 (ICS2), Colwell's Music Achievement Test 3 (MAT3), and Colwell's Music Achievement Test 4 (MAT4). The study's findings address the following four questions: (1) Are the top instrumental ensembles more musically independent than the bottom instrumental ensembles? (2) Is there a natural progression of growth in MI for music majors from freshman to graduate student? (3) Is the non-music major's musical growth influenced by participating in a postsecondary instrumental ensemble? and (4) How could MAT3, MAT4, or GT (grand total) test scores be used to evaluate postsecondary students or programs? (Contains 10 references.) Appendices present study statistical data. (GLR)