National Estimates of Male and Female Enrollment in U.S. High School Music Ensembles

• In Event: Diverse Approaches to Music Education Research

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate, at a national level and over time, the representation of males and females among those students who formally enroll in American high school bands, choirs, and orchestras. Data were drawn from ten national High School Transcript Studies conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics. Results indicated that, in the nearly three decades between 1982 and 2009 female students were significantly overrepresented not only in choirs, but also in bands and orchestras. Choirs were the most imbalanced; the proportion in choir was consistently near 70% female to 30% male. Though not as imbalanced as choirs, this study demonstrates that females are also significantly more prevalent in instrumental music education than are males.

Author

• Kenneth Elpus, University of Maryland - College Park