A comparison of retention rates of adolescent males in all-male and mixed gender beginning choral ensembles

Recruitment and retention of adolescent male singers in choral ensembles is a problem facing music educators across America. Middle school programs have slowly transitioned to include all-male ensembles in seventh and eighth grade, but there are still questions as to whether the beginning choral experience should also be gender-based. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between adolescent male retention rates and gender composition of sixth grade choral ensembles (mixed gender vs. all-male). Subjects included middle school choral directors (n = 63) representing various geographic areas of Texas. Surveys were distributed online to determine program retention rates, ensemble organization, and pedagogical techniques for working with adolescent males. Results indicated a positive correlation between a choral program's male retention rate and all-male sixth grade choral ensembles. In addition, respondents provided a list of sixth grade male choral repertoire and pedagogical techniques for all-male choral ensembles.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Master

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Dame, Nathan

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Baker, Vicki D.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Youngblood, Pamela
• Chenevert, James

• Communication and the arts
• Education
• Choral ensembles
• Retention rates
• Mixed gender

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11274/10068

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/10068