Music, Family, Mission and Meaning : A Qualitative Study of the Ricks College Choral Experience
Tempe, Arizona
Arizona State University
2002
296
Master's thesis
"This dissertation is a qualitative case study of the meanings of the choral music experience at Ricks College, a private junior college (located in Rexburg, Idaho) which is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The researcher used qualitative methods, including ethnographic interviews and field observations, to examine the nature, intensity, and evolution of the meanings of the experience from the perspective of the participants. This account employs literary language and metaphor in a manner consistent with Esiner's definitions of educational criticism and connoisseurship. Incoming college freshmen bring with them a perception of choral singing that has been shaped mainly during their high school years. Early during their college choral experience, however, these perceptions begin to evolve. Conductors and institutional environment significantly influence the nature and intensity of the meanings students ascribe to their college choral experience; these meanings in turn influence the nature and intensity of their participation. Therefore, conductors could benefit by understanding what choral singing means to singers and how context influences those meanings. This narrative explores significant themes that arose in the religious context of Ricks College. The meanings that students developed in response to the choral environment included strong feelings of family, a sense of being involved in a 'higher purpose,' and a desire to share their faith through music. These meanings induced many students to sacrifice their time and energy on behalf of their choirs. The stories invite readers to consider how their own choral environments and actions influence the meaning and quality of their students' choral music experience." [Author's abstract]