Who Enrolls in High School Music? A National Profile of U.S. Students, 2009–2013
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to construct a complete demographic profile of high school music ensemble students using nationally representative data for the U.S. graduating high school class of 2013. We make use of restricted-use data from the National Center for Education Statistics High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS). Results showed that 24% of the class of 2013 enrolled in at least one year of a course in band, choir, or orchestra at some point during high school. Music students were 60% female and 40% male, and the racial/ethnic composition of music ensemble students was 58% White, 13% Black or African American, 17% Hispanic or Latino, 4% Asian or Pacific Islander, 8% two or more races, and under 1% American Indian or Alaska Native. Students from the highest socioeconomic status quintiles were overrepresented among music students. Fully 61% of music ensemble students participated in some form of arts activity outside of school, and 71% of music students attended a play, concert, or live show with their parents as ninth graders. Complete results presented in the article include disaggregated profiles by type of ensemble and a multivariate logistic regression analysis.
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English Language Learners are likely not systematically excluded from secondary music classes.
“English Language Learners (ELL) are likely not systematically excluded from secondary music classes”
From Understanding Participation in Secondary Music Classes: A Literature Review (2020) · cites this paper as Elpus & Abril, 2019
There is some process by which students who perform better academically are preferentially selected into music classes, especially band and orchestra classes.
“There is some process by which students who perform better academically are preferentially selected into music classes, especially band and orchestra classes”
From Understanding Participation in Secondary Music Classes: A Literature Review (2020) · cites this paper as Elpus & Abril, 2019
A student's ethnicity is sometimes related to the type of music class they join.
“a student's ethnicity is sometimes related to the type of music class they join”
From Understanding Participation in Secondary Music Classes: A Literature Review (2020) · cites this paper as Elpus & Abril, 2019
High academic performance is one of the primary predictors of participation in secondary music classes, even when controlling for other demographic factors such as ethnicity or poverty.
“High academic performance is one of the primary predictors of participation in secondary music classes, even when controlling for other demographic factors such as ethnicity or poverty”
From Understanding Participation in Secondary Music Classes: A Literature Review (2020) · cites this paper as Elpus & Abril, 2019
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Shaw, R. D., & Auletto, A. (2022) · Journal of Research in Music Education · doi:10.1177/0022429421989961 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Understanding Participation in Secondary Music Classes: A Literature Review
Pendergast, S. (2020) · Update: Applications of Research in Music Education · doi:10.1177/8755123320928479 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Participation and Persistence in High School Elective Music Ensembles
Elpus, K., & Abril, C. R. (2025) · Journal of Research in Music Education · doi:10.1177/00224294241247267 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citationLuo, N., & Guan, T. (2025) · Journal of Research in Music Education · doi:10.1177/00224294241257154 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
- Authors
- Elpus, K., & Abril, C. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- University of Miami (US)
- Corresponding author
- Elpus, Kenneth
- Venue
- Journal of Research in Music Education
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2019-08-02
- Volume
- 67
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 323-338
- ISSN
- 0022-4294 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-0095
- OpenAlex
- W2965122795
- Cited by
- 225
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 314.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Research in Music Education (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Music › Diverse Music Education Insights
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Visual Arts and Performing Arts › Art Education and Development
- Social Sciences › Education › Music Education and Analysis
- Keywords
- music participation, bands, choir, orchestras, student demographics, gender differences, racial and ethnic composition, socioeconomic status, arts attendance, High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, Class of 2013
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