27th Annual Student Research Conference
Strategies for the Recruitment and Retention of Adolescent Male Students in the Secondary Choral Music Classroom
Megan F. Petrie♦
Dr. Mark Jennings, Faculty Mentor
For many decades now, the choral music community has experienced a great shortage of male participation. Choral music educators are continually looking for ways to keep male students singing or to bring them back into the classroom. This study collected and categorized strategies for recruiting and retaining male students for the secondary choral classroom. The study included examination of music education journal articles and textbooks, as well as interviews with successful teachers. Effective techniques included emphasizing skill and effort over talent and ability, performing at and communicating with feeder schools, forming an all-male chorus, and understanding and teaching the male voice change, among others. While focused on the secondary level, many of these recruiting strategies can be applied to all levels of music education, from elementary to college choirs.
Keywords: Choral Classroom , Recruitment , Retention , Male Students , Music Education
Topic(s):Education
Music
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 208-1
Location: VH 1324
Time: 9:30