This study is an examination of the relationship between gender and participation in high school and college instrumental jazz ensembles. Student demographic and attitudinal information was collected using the researcher-designed Instrumental Jazz Participation Survey (IJPS). Undergraduate college band students (N=628) representing 15 programs offering degrees in music education were surveyed. Gender and jazz ensemble participation were found to be related at both levels; 52% of women and 80% of men surveyed reported playing jazz in high school, and 14% of women and 50% of men played in college. The results indicated that attitudes toward participation are influenced by both gender and jazz experience. Women and men were found to differ in their stated reasons for quitting jazz. Women's decisions to discontinue were affected by primary instrument selection, institutional obstacles that narrow participation options, feeling more comfortable in traditional ensembles, and an inability to connect jazz participation to career aspirations.
April 21, 2004
October 1, 2004.
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