The Role of Parents in the Development of Musical Ability

Hi everyone. I am currently completing the HSC in NSW, Australia and one of my courses is Society and Culture. As a part of this course I have to complete a social research project and mine is on "The Role of Parents In the Development of Specialised Interests and Skills" - a case study of musical ability.

Your participation in my questionaire below would be muchly appreciated. I should only take 10-15 mins of your time

Please highlight, or make bold, the most appropriate response.

1. Gender:
Male
Female

2. Age:
10-13
14-16
17-20
21-25
26-35
36-45
50+

3. Please indicate your involvement in music:
Play musical instrument(s)
In a band
Enter competitions
Theatre Shows
AMEB/Trinity/other formal exams
Other - please specify

4. How many hours a week, on average, do you play or listen to music?
0-2
3-5
6-9
10+

For the following questions, the scale is as follows
1 - strongly agree
2 - agree
3 - unsure
4 - disagree
5 - strongly disagree

Please indicate, by number, your response:
Please feel free to add details or comments of your own.

5. Musical ability is inherited, as opposed to being learned.
6. One or both of my parents display a strong interest and/or skill in the musical field.
7. I would still be a musician if my parents did not display any interest or skill in the musical field.
8. Generally, my parents influence, or have influenced, the development of my specialised skills and interests.
9. I consider listening to and/or playing music to be common place in my household.
10. I share musical tastes with my parents.
11. I have conflicted with my parents regarding my choice of specialised musical interest and skill.

Can you identify any other people or events that have had a significant influence on your musical development? (e.g. peers, teachers, school, siblings)

Can you identify the ways in which your parents have influenced the development of your musical ability? (e.g. common interests, financial support, home environment)

Please provide any other comments you have on this topic of investigation below.

You have reached the end of the questionnaire. Thank you for your participation.
For further information please PM me.

 

1. Gender:
Male
Female

2. Age:
10-13
14-16
17-20
21-25
26-35
36-45
50+

3. Please indicate your involvement in music:
Play musical instrument(s)
In a band
Enter competitions
Theatre Shows
AMEB/Trinity/other formal exams
Other - please specify
previously in a band, also a choir.

4. How many hours a week, on average, do you play or listen to music?
0-2
3-5
6-9
10+

For the following questions, the scale is as follows
1 - strongly agree
2 - agree
3 - unsure
4 - disagree
5 - strongly disagree

Please indicate, by number, your response:
Please feel free to add details or comments of your own.

5. Musical ability is inherited, as opposed to being learned. 2
6. One or both of my parents display a strong interest and/or skill in the musical field.4
7. I would still be a musician if my parents did not display any interest or skill in the musical field.2
8. Generally, my parents influence, or have influenced, the development of my specialised skills and interests.4
9. I consider listening to and/or playing music to be common place in my household.3
10. I share musical tastes with my parents.4
11. I have conflicted with my parents regarding my choice of specialised musical interest and skill.1

Can you identify any other people or events that have had a significant influence on your musical development? (e.g. peers, teachers, school, siblings)her

Teacher at school gave me great encouragement and help.

Can you identify the ways in which your parents have influenced the development of your musical ability? (e.g. common interests, financial support, home environment)

My parents blocked my study of music as a child/teenager because they didn't think it could lead to a 'proper job'.

Please provide any other comments you have on this topic of investigation below.

As above - despite my music techer telling them I had some ability and trying to encourage them to support me, my parents were too focused on the idea of me becoming a lawyer or doctor or something similar. In fact, I became nothing of the sort. My parents tastes in music were virtually non-existent - they didn't like pop, and didn't understand classical.
As a result, I feel I missed out on a possible career in music.
Definitely, musical ability, or at least potential is something one either has or has not. But it is also true that it is training that makes a musician.

 

thank you very much BlackBillBlake! Your response and contribution to my research is much appreciated

 

My pleasure. It's a shame a few more haven't responded.

 

yeah, its a bummer. worth a go, I guess haha

 

1. Gender:
Male
Female

2. Age:
10-13
14-16
17-20
21-25
26-35
36-45
50+

3. Please indicate your involvement in music:
Play musical instrument(s)
In a band
Enter competitions
Theatre Shows
AMEB/Trinity/other formal exams
Other - please specify

4. How many hours a week, on average, do you play or listen to music?
0-2
3-5
6-9
10+

For the following questions, the scale is as follows
1 - strongly agree
2 - agree
3 - unsure
4 - disagree
5 - strongly disagree

Please indicate, by number, your response:
Please feel free to add details or comments of your own.

5. Musical ability is inherited, as opposed to being learned. 5.
6. One or both of my parents display a strong interest and/or skill in the musical field. 4.
7. I would still be a musician if my parents did not display any interest or skill in the musical field. 1
8. Generally, my parents influence, or have influenced, the development of my specialised skills and interests. 4/5
9. I consider listening to and/or playing music to be common place in my household. 3
10. I share musical tastes with my parents. 3
11. I have conflicted with my parents regarding my choice of specialised musical interest and skill. 3/4

Can you identify any other people or events that have had a significant influence on your musical development? (e.g. peers, teachers, school, siblings) A few friends, especially Luke Woodstown from the band Floyd Soul.

Can you identify the ways in which your parents have influenced the development of your musical ability? (e.g. common interests, financial support, home environment) My parents really aren't musical at all.

Please provide any other comments you have on this topic of investigation below.

You have reached the end of the questionnaire. Thank you for your participation.
For further information please PM me.

 

1. Gender:
Male
Female

2. Age:
10-13
14-16
17-20( I'll be 17 in two days so I'm putting that)
21-25
26-35
36-45
50+

3. Please indicate your involvement in music:
Play musical instrument(s)~guitar(my main), a little paino and drums too.
In a band~not right now but I have been in many
Enter competitions
Theatre Shows
AMEB/Trinity/other formal exams
Other - please specify

4. How many hours a week, on average, do you play or listen to music?
0-2
3-5
6-9
10+

For the following questions, the scale is as follows
1 - strongly agree
2 - agree
3 - unsure
4 - disagree
5 - strongly disagree

Please indicate, by number, your response:
Please feel free to add details or comments of your own.

5. Musical ability is inherited, as opposed to being learned.5
6. One or both of my parents display a strong interest and/or skill in the musical field. 1
7. I would still be a musician if my parents did not display any interest or skill in the musical field. 5
8. Generally, my parents influence, or have influenced, the development of my specialised skills and interests. 5
9. I consider listening to and/or playing music to be common place in my household. 3 my mom usally shuts me or my dads off
10. I share musical tastes with my parents. 4
11. I have conflicted with my parents regarding my choice of specialised musical interest and skill. 4 My dad thinks music is the way to go while my mom thinks I should'nt take it so seriously as I should my grades

Can you identify any other people or events that have had a significant influence on your musical development? (e.g. peers, teachers, school, siblings) Peers, a teacher or two, the musical community

Can you identify the ways in which your parents have influenced the development of your musical ability? (e.g. common interests, financial support, home environment) My dad psuhes more then anything cuse he knows it's what I want

Please provide any other comments you have on this topic of investigation below. Music has turned into life for me.

 

1. Gender:
Male
Female

2. Age:
10-13
14-16
17-20
21-25
26-35
36-45
50+

3. Please indicate your involvement in music:
Play musical instrument(s) - Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Banjo, Piano, Drums, Harmonica, Recorder , and a little Saxophone.
In a band - Not right now, but previously, yes.
Enter competitions
Theatre Shows
AMEB/Trinity/other formal exams
Other - please specify

Studying to get my Asso. in Recording Arts.

4. How many hours a week, on average, do you play or listen to music?
0-2
3-5
6-9
10+

For the following questions, the scale is as follows
1 - strongly agree
2 - agree
3 - unsure
4 - disagree
5 - strongly disagree

Please indicate, by number, your response:
Please feel free to add details or comments of your own.

5. Musical ability is inherited, as opposed to being learned. 5
6. One or both of my parents display a strong interest and/or skill in the musical field. 5
7. I would still be a musician if my parents did not display any interest or skill in the musical field. 1
8. Generally, my parents influence, or have influenced, the development of my specialised skills and interests. 3
9. I consider listening to and/or playing music to be common place in my household. 1
10. I share musical tastes with my parents. 4
11. I have conflicted with my parents regarding my choice of specialised musical interest and skill. 5

Can you identify any other people or events that have had a significant influence on your musical development? (e.g. peers, teachers, school, siblings)

Nothing comes to mind.

Can you identify the ways in which your parents have influenced the development of your musical ability? (e.g. common interests, financial support, home environment)

Since I can remember, I've been very drawn to music, even though neither of my parents really have much interest in it, but they've always been supportive of me (both finacially and emotionally). However, I do think it's probable that my parents did influence my draw to music, but completely unintentionally. My father (along with a good portion of my extended family) is very much involved in politics, and so over-exposure to that atmosphere probably drove me to love the artistic/musical community and the ideals, therein.

Please provide any other comments you have on this topic of investigation below.

Feel free to PM me with further questions, if need be.

You have reached the end of the questionnaire. Thank you for your participation.
For further information please PM me.

 

1. Gender:
Male
Female

2. Age:
10-13
14-16
17-20
21-25
26-35
36-45
50+

3. Please indicate your involvement in music:
Play musical instrument(s)
In a band
Enter competitions
Theatre Shows
AMEB/Trinity/other formal exams
Other - please specify

4. How many hours a week, on average, do you play or listen to music?
0-2
3-5
6-9
10+

5. Musical ability is inherited, as opposed to being learned.
5
6. One or both of my parents display a strong interest and/or skill in the musical field.
3
7. I would still be a musician if my parents did not display any interest or skill in the musical field.
1
8. Generally, my parents influence, or have influenced, the development of my specialised skills and interests.
2
9. I consider listening to and/or playing music to be common place in my household.
1
10. I share musical tastes with my parents.
2
11. I have conflicted with my parents regarding my choice of specialised musical interest and skill.
4

Can you identify any other people or events that have had a significant influence on your musical development? (e.g. peers, teachers, school, siblings)When I first listening to Led Zeppelin (Immigrant Song)

Can you identify the ways in which your parents have influenced the development of your musical ability? (e.g. common interests, financial support, home environment)Moral support

Please provide any other comments you have on this topic of investigation below. They don't give us enought music class in school!

 

1. Gender:
Male
Female

2. Age:
10-13
14-16
17-20
21-25
26-35
36-45
50+

3. Please indicate your involvement in music:
Play musical instruments - guitar, vox, flute, piano
In a band
Enter competitions
Theatre Shows
AMEB/Trinity/other formal exams
Other - please specify

4. How many hours a week, on average, do you play or listen to music?
0-2
3-5
6-9
10+

For the following questions, the scale is as follows
1 - strongly agree
2 - agree
3 - unsure
4 - disagree
5 - strongly disagree

Please indicate, by number, your response:
Please feel free to add details or comments of your own.

5. Musical ability is inherited, as opposed to being learned. 1
6. One or both of my parents display a strong interest and/or skill in the musical field. 2
7. I would still be a musician if my parents did not display any interest or skill in the musical field. 3
8. Generally, my parents influence, or have influenced, the development of my specialised skills and interests. 5
9. I consider listening to and/or playing music to be common place in my household. 4
10. I share musical tastes with my parents. 5
11. I have conflicted with my parents regarding my choice of specialised musical interest and skill. 5

Can you identify any other people or events that have had a significant influence on your musical development? (e.g. peers, teachers, school, siblings)

It was because of my cousin that I started playing the flute. It was my second flute teacher that introduced me to jazz. I can't remember why I picked up guitar but my guitar teacher has been a huge influence in my tastes. My ex-girlfriend introduced me to alternative music of many kinds.

Can you identify the ways in which your parents have influenced the development of your musical ability? (e.g. common interests, financial support, home environment)

They got me lessons on guitar and flute. They also paid for my first flute, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and amplifier.

 

woah! thanks for all the responses guys, keep them coming!!!