Researchers frequently use survey methods to collect data about many music education settings. Low response rates associated with survey-based research may lead to biased results and to error in statistical analysis. The purposes of this literature analysis were to review recommendations regarding acceptable response rates for survey research in general, and to analyze survey-based studies from music education. Articles (N = 79) with a survey design method published in six music education journals were identified. Analysis showed a trend of decreasing response rates in this body of literature, and that response rates in music education literature may not meet generally accepted minima. Further analysis led to conclusions about the highest and lowest response rates observed, and possible reasons for the rates that these authors achieved. Appendices include summarized recommendations from methodological literature and a table of articles included in the analysis.