The purpose of this study was to examine student attitudes, musical backgrounds, and immediate situations that affect string participation in the university orchestra. Two groups of university students located mainly in the Great Lakes Region were surveyed via an online website: 1. orchestra participants with high school orchestra experience (n=103), and 2. orchestra non-participants with high school orchestra experience (n=28).Findings in this study include differences between participants and non-participants concerning their decision to seek membership in the university orchestra. Commonalities between orchestra members with regard to their participation were found, while non-participants were found to differ from each other according to their reasons for non-participation.String players that have continued to participate in orchestra ensembles at the university level are likely to have more performance experiences in their background, especially in high school. Parental encouragement, private lessons, and participation in solo and ensemble festival are factors that affect participation. Positive attitudes such as the value of participating in a music ensemble, the enjoyment of playing in an orchestra, and confidence as a string player are also strong factors. Secondary influences may involve the invitation of a friend, director, and the offering of a scholarship. University orchestra members continue to enjoy their experience participating and work rehearsals into their busy schedule. Non-members are aware of the university orchestra but do not possess standard reasons they do not participate with regard to their attitudes and immediate situations. Reasons for not participation appear to vary from individual to individual.String players who continue to perform beyond high school by becoming a university orchestra member place a stronger value on participation, which is originally influenced by background experience and parental encouragement. It is likely university orchestra non-participants failed to cultivate these values strongly, and have shed activities which include music involvement which may have been more influenced by friends and parents at a younger age.University orchestra directors may positively influence string player participation by supplying high school students with more performance experiences, and aggressively marketing the orchestra program to university students. Coordinated efforts with high school directors to provide young students with experiences (i.e. youth orchestras and string camps) that have a positive lasting impression may be one way to increase orchestra participation beyond high school. Directors may also consider brainstorming creative ways to market and advertise the university orchestra to reach the attention of the non-major who may be interested if given enough encouragement. / School of Music
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/180010 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Rhyneer, Barbara L. |
| Contributors | McAllister, Peter A. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | ix, 104 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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