College Choir Members' Motivation to Persist in Music: Application of the Tinto Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the influences of parental musicianship and support in music, students' previous musical experience, self concept of musical ability, value of music, academic integration, and social integration in college choir students intentions to continue music participation in the future, both in and after college. Tinto's model of institutional departure (1975, 1982, 1987, 1993) was used in the present study. The Choir Participation Survey II, developed by the present author, was administered to 154 choir students in a large public university in the southern United States. The path analytical model fit data well and explained 50% ( p < .05) of variance in musical intention. The best predictors of musical intentions were social integration in the choir (beta = .34; p < .05) and the value of music (beta = .57, p < .05). The author concludes with implications of the findings and suggestions for future research.