Rural students, aspirations, motivation, and music education : why don't more rural students make it to college?

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
James L. Sheek (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Carl Lashley

Abstract: "The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of participation in high school choral music classes and aesthetic experiences on a group of high school students' postsecondary aspirations. Twenty students were selected to participate in the study. Ten of those with aspirations of attending a four-year college and ten with limited postsecondary aspirations. Ten of the students selected participated in choral music classes in high school, while the other ten did not. Students participated in two interview sessions lasting between 45 minutes and one hour each. Once the interviews were complete, the data from the audio recordings were analyzed using open coding. Themes and commonalities between responses were examined. The students in the study indicated a need to make their parents proud, indicating the strong influence of their parents on their postsecondary plans. Students discussed their need to feel connected to the school through relationships with teachers and coaches. Connectedness to peers was achieved through participation in sports and other extracurricular activities, such as choral music. Choral music students had developed a broader social understanding through their performance travels to places such as New York City. All of the participants in the study spoke of their experiences with aesthetics, with the choral music students having the greatest ease and facility discussing their experiences. Their feedback indicated they had a stronger understanding of the aesthetic experiences than students without choral music experience. Through their choral music experiences and their shared aesthetic experiences, students developed connections to their director and each other."--Abstract from author supplied metadata.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2007
Keywords
participation, high school, choral music, classes, high school, students, postsecondary, aspirations, college
Subjects
Music--Instruction and study--Psychological aspects
Music--Instruction and study--education (Secondary)
Student aspirations--education (Secondary)

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