Influence of musical characteristics on style preferences of African American students in urban areas

Changing school demographics suggest that teachers reach and teach all children. To adequately teach toward diversity requires music teaches to be knowledgeable of student needs as they plan instruction. The purpose of this study was to determine the musical styles that African American students like and their reasons for liking. Subjects were 976 African American students enrolled in urban school districts. While listening to excerpts of 14 different musical styles, students responded to which of six factors most influenced their reasons for liking the style. Multiple regression analyses revealed that rhythm was the most significant musical characteristic that influenced several styles. Other musical characteristics were more or less significant factors for liking, depending on the style.