Secondary Choral Educator Traits and Characteristics that Support Adolescent Male Enrollment

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine which traits and characteristics secondary choral educators have in common that encourage male participation in a choral setting. The study focused on how choral music educators perceive themselves in regard to the recruitment and retention of male singers in their programs. While analyzing the data, similarities and differences of participants who had programs with a low male enrollment were compared to those with a higher male enrollment. A review of related literature was used to formulate an online survey instrument. A cover letter was sent via email to members of the Eastern, Middle, and Western Tennessee Vocal Music Educators Association. Data from the 35 participants were reported as frequencies and percentages. The results indicated that sex, classroom management, competitiveness, extroversion, conductor magnitude, and familial attitudes towards students support male enrollment, recruitment, and retention. Recommendations that are provided can help bring a greater self-awareness to secondary choral educators as they work on increasing the numbers of male participants in their programs.