The Attitudes And Interests Of Adolescent Middle School Youth Regarding Traditional Music Instruction

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to discover the attitudes and interests of middle school aged youth regarding traditional music program instruction and to compare the attitudes of band students with non-band students. More specifically, what are students' current musical interests; how are traditional music programs perceived socially, and what factors affect enrollment in school music programs. The subjects were students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade in a public school district in Huntington Beach, California. Subjects were divided into two groups, band participants and non-participants, and completed separate surveys asking questions about their opinions of their school music program. Generally, non-participants have a slightly negative to very negative opinion of traditional school music programs, but show interest in non-traditional types of music classes like rock band or guitar class. Band participants are more positive toward music but also show an interest in popular instruments and music styles.