Aspects of Musical Experience of African American and Mexican American Choral Ensembles with Implications for Choral Music Education
The purpose of this study was to identify and examine some of the culturally based concepts of musical experience practiced in African American and Mexican American communities. A further purpose was to examine the implications of these concepts for choral music educators teaching in pluralistic American schools. Specifically addressed within each of the two groups were defining characteristics of musical aesthetics, the functions of music, musical behaviors, the roles of musicians, music teaching and learning processes, and vocal tone production.
The study involved a three-part research process. The first part featured a review of literature examining in turn aspects of musical experience of African Americans and of Mexican Americans. The second part utilized data gathering techniques including observations, interviews, and questionnaires to examine teaching and learning practices and other aspects of musical experience as revealed in rehearsal settings of three different African American and three different Mexican American choral ensembles. In the third part of the study the findings of the literature review and the data gathering techniques were synthesized, conclusions were drawn, and implications for choral music education were proposed.
Aspects of musical experience of African Americans described in the research literature and supported by the observational data included the importance of the social function of music, music as part of a complex event involving aural and visual elements, the practice of improvisation, aural teaching and learning practices, and a vocal tone production characterized by variety, intensity, and expressiveness. Those aspects of musical experience of Mexican Americans found in the literature and supported by observational data related to varying acculturative influences, the hybridization of Mexican American music, the importance of the social function of music, the major role of instruments, aural teaching and learning practices, and a vocal tone production somewhat nasal in quality and characterized by energy and emotion.
Recommendations for choral music education focus on the programming of both Western music and music representative of American diversity, employing teaching techniques and vocal tone appropriate to these varying styles, learning about students’ home communities, and planning performance events in collaboration with community musicians and organizations.