Research Shorts: ‘Joining alone’ Factors that influence the musical participation of young adults after leaving school
17th December 2024
This week I’m talking to Emma White and Professor Stephanie Pitts about their work exploring what happens to young people and their music making after leaving school, focusing on those young adults who have been very active in music making. This is very timely research for hubs and services tackling supporting over 18-year-olds as part of the National Plan for Music Education 2 and for all of us as people with a connection to music.
In their work, Emma and Stephanie found that 87% of respondents had intended to continue music-making post-school but only 48% had found groups to join. But despite this, 78% of those asked expected to continue with music-making in the future.
‘Our research therefore suggests that any break from musical participation need not be permanent for individuals who have established strong musical identities through their early experiences.’
They discovered that ‘respondents who had successfully found music-making opportunities post-school found this helped them establish social bonds.’ One of the things acting as a deterrent to music-making was ‘a perceived lack of fit between an individual’s needs and expectations and the available musical opportunities.’
They explained that the research could be useful for educators ‘preparing young people for musical life beyond school and the realities of the groups they might seek’, as well as community music partners or music hubs who run music activities that bridge the school/post–school divide. Emma and Stephanie also suggested that universities and colleges might want to think about the range of activities they provide and the ways they might advertise these throughout the year.
The research argues ‘By creating appropriate environments and providing a variety of opportunities, [music educators] will help young people sustain their musical life into adulthood and experience and enjoy lifelong musical participation where the balance of musical and social needs is met.’
Emma White is a music teacher with Hertfordshire Music Service and undertook a Masters in the Psychology of Music in Education, Performance and Wellbeing at the University of Sheffield. Her interest in the musical paths of young people when they leave school prompted the research. Stephanie Pitts is Professor of Music Education at the University of Sheffield and collaborated with Emma on this paper. She has research interests in musical life histories, audience experience and engagement, and leisure-time music groups.
Read more:
Read their article in full.
Further links to Stephanie’s research are available through the Sheffield Performer and Audience Research Centre: https://sparc.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/
Interview by Dr Sarah K. Whitfield – Research Manager at Music Mark
