A Profile of Community College Students as Preservice Music Educators

Abstract

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was to provide a profile of preservice music educators who chose to attend community college and a description of factors that led to this choice. The study was framed by Perna’s college choice model and focused on participants’ experiences and the socioeconomic and educational contexts that predated their enrollment. Quantitative data were collected via a questionnaire to community college students who sought a career in music education ( N = 59). Qualitative data were gleaned from interviews with four participants. Most participants (77.97%) identified as White, 47.47% identified as female, the mean age was 21.90 years, and 50.85% were first-generation college students. Participants reported varying levels of cultural capital, with 54.24% receiving private lessons prior to college. Affordability, location, the opportunity to live at home, flexible scheduling, and prior positive experiences with the college were motivators for attending a community college.