“A Home away from Home”: The World of the High School Music Classroom

The purpose of the study was to investigate the world of the high school music classroom. Motivation to join music ensembles and to remain, perception of the musical groups by their members and by the school community as a whole, the meaning and value that music ensembles engender for their participants, and the social climate of the music classroom were explored. Structured interviews were conducted with 60 students—20 each from band, choir, and orchestra. Students joined ensembles for musical, social, academic, and family reasons. Insider views highlighted the importance of labels and identifiers and changing perceptions throughout one's school career, whereas outsider views included the opinion that musicians are talented, intelligent, and underappreciated. Ensemble participation yielded musical, academic, psychological, and social benefits. The social climate emerged as a pervasive element in the study as students noted the importance of relationships for their well-being and growth.