| Description |
This study was conducted to better understand the musical and personal characteristics of students inside and outside school music programs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to identify patterns of musical activity from an adolescent school population; and (2) to examine the demographic, environmental, and personal beliefs associated with different patterns of musical activity. Participants for this study were students from two high schools and one middle school in Salt Lake City, Utah (N = 855). Individuals completed a researcher-designed music participation index to measure levels of musical activity. The musical activities were categorized by three separate domains: formal (school/private lessons), nonformal (community music), and informal (home music). Data from the music participation index were analyzed using latent profile analysis, which is a quantitative technique that enabled the researcher to identify hidden or unobserved (latent) patterns (profiles) of musical activity. Results revealed six distinct profiles of musical activity. Students in Profile 1 (21%) reported below average rates of musical activity in each domain (i.e., formal, nonformal, informal). Students in Profile 2 (24%) listened to music at average rates but showed below average rates of participation in almost every other domain. Students in Profile 3 (22%) reported above average desire for music participation but did not actually participate in very many musical activities. Students in Profile 4 (8%) showed above average rates of informal musical activity while demonstrating little participation in formal or nonformal activities. Students in Profile 5 (17%) reported the most involvement in formal and nonformal activities. Finally, students in Profile 6 showed above average involvement in every informal music domain and relatively high rates of formal and nonformal music participation. The majority of students from this sample (67%) reported average or below average rates of music listening and little performing or creating musical activities in any domain (i.e., formal, nonformal, informal). These findings may have implications regarding the amount of students outside of school music programs who are interested in engaging in schoolbased music activities. The music participation profiles were also compared on the basis of several demographic, environmental, and personal belief variables. |
