Male high school students’ perceptions of choral singing

Brand, Michael Carlton

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/104928 Copy

Description

Title

Male high school students’ perceptions of choral singing

Author(s)

Brand, Michael Carlton

Issue Date

2019-04-25

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Sweet, Bridget M

Committee Member(s)

• Barrett, Janet R.
• Gallo, Donna J.

Department of Study

Music

Discipline

Music Education

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.Mus.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• choir
• male
• singing experiences
• choral singing
• missing male

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate male high school students’ perceptions of choral singing. Focus was maintained on three categories of students: choir students, ex-choir students, and never-enrolled students. Data included individual interviews with eleven male high school students from the three aforementioned categories. Four themes emerged through phenomenological reduction: Clan Association, Motivation, Gender Norms, and Casual Singing. Analysis of the data revealed that males tended to perceive choir as an activity more suited for girls. Students with ensemble experiences viewed singing mostly as a learned skill, whereas students without ensemble experience associated singing more with innate ability. Analysis also revealed a disconnect between student perceptions of singing: as either a performance-based activity, or a participatory activity. The essence of this study was that male high school students’ perceptions of choral singing are disconnected from their perceptions of casual singing. Regardless of prior musical experiences, self-perceived abilities, social influences, or perceptions of choral singing, high school males are predisposed to sing given the right circumstances.

Graduation Semester

2019-05

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/104928

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2019 Michael Carlton Brand

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