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Care in the competitive choral ensemble

This qualitative case study investigates care ethics within a competitive, high school choral ensemble in the weeks leading up to an annual competition. Ethical care (Noddings, 1984/2013) is predicated on building individual, one-on-one relationships with students. Success at contest is predicated on ensemble evaluations rather than individual student performances. Thus, ethical care may be difficult to achieve within ensembles where group preparation for contest is prioritized over individualized music education. Data from semistructured student and teacher interviews, semistructured focus groups, rehearsal observations, and document analysis is analyzed through Tarlow’s (1996) phases of the caring process. Findings show that participants experienced care as distinctive and actions-based, but that care for competition complicated care for individuals within the choir. Through the actions of their peers and teacher, students reported that their competitive choir was a uniquely caring space in their lives. The pursuit of excellence at competition caused stress that resulted in actions misaligned with ethical care.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/48713
Date07 May 2024
CreatorsTurner, Charles Tyler
ContributorsBylica, Kelly
Source SetsBoston University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis/Dissertation

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