Music Participation Among Public School Students in Metropolitan China: An Examination of Personal, Parental, and School Factors

Luo, Ning; Guan, Tao

doi:10.1177/00224294241257154

Cited by 9Diverse Music Education InsightsMusic Education and AnalysisMusic History and Culture

Music Participation Among Public School Students in Metropolitan China: An Examination of Personal, Parental, and School Factors

Luo, Ning, Guan, Tao·2025·Journal of Research in Music Education

DOI 10.1177/00224294241257154

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of personal, parental, and school-related musical factors on music participation among public elementary and secondary school students in an economically advantaged urban area in China. A total of 12,155 students from sixth, eighth, and 11th grades reported their demographic information, musical interest, attitude, self-concept, perceived parental support, and perceived school music environment. The results indicated that (a) the female students and those with higher socioeconomic status had higher levels of musical interest, more positive attitudes, a stronger musical self-concept, greater perceived parental support, and better perceived school music environments; (b) there was a gap between National Curriculum Standards and actual music education delivery at the elementary level; (c) students’ demographic and personal factors were more influential than parental and school factors in predicting music participation; (d) there was a significant association between socioeconomic status and engagement in out-of-school music activities; and (e) parental support and the perceived school music environment moderated the relationships between personal factors and music participation. By illuminating the complex dynamics that affect music participation in a metropolitan Chinese context, we hope to enhance global understanding and foster cross-cultural discourse on music education.

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Luo and Guan reveal a gap in policy implementation, with urban schools fully adopting the curriculum while under-resourced regions struggle due to inadequate staffing and funding.
“Findings by Luo and Guan [22] reveal a gap in policy implementation, with urban schools fully adopting the curriculum while under-resourced regions struggle due to inadequate staffing and funding.”
From Attitudes and Behaviors toward traditional music among Chinese students: the role of individual, family, and school factors (2026) · cites this paper as [22]
Exam-oriented systems often prioritize core subjects over arts education, leading to tokenistic inclusion of music.
“However, exam-oriented systems often prioritize core subjects over arts education, leading to tokenistic inclusion of music [22].”
From Attitudes and Behaviors toward traditional music among Chinese students: the role of individual, family, and school factors (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors: Luo, N., & Guan, T.
Affiliations: Education University of Hong Kong (HK)
Guangzhou University (CN)
Corresponding author: Guan, Tao
ORCID: Luo, Ning
Guan, Tao
Venue: Journal of Research in Music Education
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2024-06-12
Volume: 73
Issue: 1
Pages: 42-66
ISSN: 0022-4294 (ISSN-L)
1945-0095
DOI: 10.1177/00224294241257154
OpenAlex: W4399612918
Cited by: 9
References: 68
Citations by year: 2026: 6 · 2025: 3
FWCI: 47.45
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Research in Music Education (publishedVersion)
Funders: Guangdong social science foundation (GD23YYS12)
Topics: Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Music › Diverse Music Education Insights
Social Sciences › Education › Music Education and Analysis
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Music › Music History and Culture
Keywords: music participation, music education, public school students, parental support, musical self-concept, music interest, attitudes toward music, socioeconomic status, gender differences, national curriculum standards, K-12 education

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Music Participation Among Public School Students in Metropolitan China: An Examination of Personal, Parental, and School Factors

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