Resumen de Being a Musician: Musical Identity and the Adolescent Singer
This study investigated six adolescents' (ages 12�14) perceptions of musical identity as influenced by participation in a community children's choir. Research questions focused on the role of the conductor, peers, and ensemble participation on students' musical identities. Data collection included focus group interviews and individual interviews with choristers, their parents, the choir conductor, and one former choir member. Through an embedded analysis of student definitions of musicianship, an interesting dichotomy emerged. Despite participating in a rich musical experience, choristers did not equate these experiences with improving their individual musicianship. Additional emergent themes included the chorister's strong opinions on the connection between external (e.g., facial expressions) and internal (e.g., feeling the music) expressions of musicianship, as well as their desire to be perceived as "normal" while maintaining their emerging musical identities.
