Adult community musicians' self-esteem of music ability

The purpose of this study was to describe self-esteem among adult community musicians, and to determine whether group differences in music self-concept were associated with age, gender, or ensemble type. A 47-item modified version of Schmitt's Self-Esteem of Music Ability scale identified respondents' levels of self-esteem regarding self-perception of music abilities, support and recognition from others, and personal interest and desire. Participants included 366 adults from 12 American community bands and choruses in four states. Overall, results indicated that musical self-esteem was generally high across respondents, with a largely positive outlook on longevity and future aspirations. Personal interest and desire ranked highest, followed by self-perception of music abilities, with support and recognition from others ranked lowest. A statistically significant difference was found between age levels, with older adults differing significantly from younger adults. Gender and ensemble type, however, were not found to be statistically significant.