The Gallup Organization

1
The Gallup Organization

• American Attitudes Toward Music
• Conducted for
• National Association of Music Merchants
• March 2003

2
Table of Contents
Introduction and Methodology S
tudy Highlights
Detailed Findings Household Players
. Musical Instrument Ownership
Personal Experiences and Respondent Opinions
Attitudes Toward Playing a Musical
Instrument Demographics

4 5 13 25
30 42 52

3
Introduction and Methodology
4
Introduction and Methodology

• The purpose of this study is to gauge public
  attitudes toward playing musical instruments in
  the United States. It is a follow-up to a
  similar study conducted in 2000. A random sample
  of consumers, 12 years of age or older, in U.S.
  households was used to complete 1,005 telephone
  interviews between February 4 and March 8, 2003.
  Interviews lasted about eleven minutes. A
  three-call design was used that is, if the
  eligible respondent was not available during the
  initial call, up to two additional calls were
  made to reach the respondent.
• For results based on a sample of 1,005
  respondents, one can say with 95 confidence that
  the error attributable to sampling and other
  random effects would be plus or minus 3.1. In
  addition to sampling error, question wording and
  practical difficulties in conducting surveys can
  introduce error or bias into the survey
  findings.

5
Study Highlights
6
Musical Instrument Players

• Slightly more than 1 in 2 (54) of households
  have a member who plays a musical instrument, up
  from the 50 figure in 2000, and the highest
  figure since this study began in 1978 (51).
• One in three (37) respondents play a musical
  instrument. Twenty-nine percent of all
  households have other members of the household
  that play an instrument. Both of these figures
  are similar to 2000.
• Almost one in two (48) households with at least
  one person who plays a musical instrument have
  two or more members who play. This is up
  significantly from the 40 figure in 2000.
• The gender and age breakdown of musical
  instrument players is consistent with prior
  years.
  
• Three of four musical instrument players decided
  for themselves what instrument they would play.
  This is consistent with prior studies there is
  little difference by gender.

7
Musical Instrument Players

• One in five (18) players takes private lessons
  1 in 3 (35) participates in a school
  instrumental program, and 15 take other types of
  instrumental music lessons.
• About half (51) of all households have a musical
  instrument owner, comparable to the 53 in 2000,
  but much higher than the 43 in 1997.
  
• Music retailers are the preferred source for
  purchasing an instrument (55) almost 1 in 5
  (18) would shop for an instrument on the
  Internet, while only 1 in 10 (13) would consider
  a mainstream retailer.
• Purchasing a new instrument is preferred over a
  used one (45 to 38), while 1 in 5 (18) would
  consider either a new or a used instrument.

8
Personal Experiences

• Four of ten players got started in instrumental
  music due to the encouragement of their parents,
  while 28 became interested on their own. The
  latter figure has trended downward (38 - 32 -
  28) since 1997.
• The vast majority (64) of players started to
  play between the ages of 5-11. Females started
  earlier than males 69 of females started
  between 5-11 while 3 started between 15-18
  whereas 58 of males started playing between 5-11
  and 11 started between 15-18.
• When asked how they first learned to play a
  musical instrument, 3 in 10 took lessons at
  school and 1 in 4 (26) took private lessons.
  Females were much more likely than males to have
  taken private lessons (35-17), and males were
  more likely to have taught themselves (33-12).

9
Personal Experiences

• Slightly more than 1 in 3 (38) have read, seen,
  or heard about the educational benefits of
  playing a musical instrument. Of these, their
  primary source is television (33), followed by
  magazines (18), schools and teachers (15), and
  the newspaper (12).
• An overwhelming majority (73) believes that
  children should be exposed to music before age 5.
  Even more remarkable is that one in two (54)
  believe it should happen before the child is one
  year old. This figure is higher among women than
  men (62-45) and among college graduates than
  non-college graduates (66-51).
• More than one half (58) strongly agree that
  music plays a significant role in preschool
  development (the same as in 2000) while 2 of 3
  (64) strongly agree that its important for
  children to engage in musical activities in
  daycare/preschool (comparable to 2000s 67).

10
Attitudes Toward Playing a Musical Instrument

• An overwhelming majority anywhere from 80 -
  97 -- completely agree or mostly agree with the
  social attitudes about music music is an
  important part of my life, it brings families
  together, playing an instrument is something Im
  glad I learned, music is a good hobby and a good
  means of expression, it provides a sense of
  accomplishment, playing an instrument is fun, it
  is relaxing.
• Over 8 in 10 (84) wish they had learned to play
  a musical instrument while 2 in 3 (67) would
  like to learn to play a musical instrument.
  
• In a question asked for the first time this year,
  8 in 10 (80) completely or mostly agree that
  making music makes you smarter.
  

11
Attitudes Toward Playing a Musical Instrument

• The vast majority either completely or mostly
  agree about the music education attitudes in
  school bank is a good way to develop teamwork
  skills (96), music is part of a well-rounded
  education (95), schools should offer music as
  part of the regular curriculum (93),
  participating in music yields better grades
  (85), I would be proud to be in the school band
  or orchestra (81), schools should mandate music
  education (79), music can be enjoyed your entire
  life (98), music instills an appreciation of
  arts (97), music helps children make friends
  (93), and music helps teach children discipline
  (88).
• Music was also felt to have a positive effect on
  childrens development. A clear majority
  completely agreed that playing a musical
  instrument provides a sense of accomplishment
  (61),

12
Attitudes Toward Playing a Musical Instrument

• performing in front of others helps develop
  confidence (65), it helps develop creativity
  (61), and it helps overall intellectual
  development (50). Three in four (78) either
  completely or mostly agree that learning a
  musical instrument helps you do better in other
  subjects, almost three quarters (71) believe
  that teenagers who play an instrument are less
  likely to have disciplinary problems.
• One in three (33) were very likely to learn to
  play a musical instrument if they cost less to
  own or rent. Four in 10 (42) strongly agreed
  with the statement that they would be more likely
  to participate in music making if scientific
  research found that it improved their health.

13
Household Players
14
Incidence of Music Participation by Study Year

Questions 5 and 6, respectively Do you,
yourself, play a musical instrument of any kind?
Please consider all instruments that may be
played, even if they are not owned? AND Do
any other members of this household, five years
of age and older, play a musical instrument of
any kind? Again, please consider all instruments
that may be played, even if they are not owned.
Dont Know, Refused, and Not Applicable
responses are not included in the base sizes.
Those who answered yes to either question were
classified as a household with at least one
member who currently plays an instrument.
15
Incidence of Music Participation by Study Year

Questions 5 and 6, respectively See earlier
graph in this section for wording of question.
Dont Know, Refused, and Not Applicable
responses are not included in the base sizes.
Compared to previous years, the respondent in
2003 as well as 2000 was significantly more
likely at the 90 level of confidence to play a
musical instrument than were other family
members.
16
Number of Persons in HHs Who CurrentlyPlay a
Musical Instrument by Study Year

Question 7 How many household members,
including yourself, aged five years or older,
play a musical instrument of any kind. Dont
Know, Refused, and Not Applicable responses
are not included in the base sizes. Only
households with one or more persons aged five or
older who play a musical instrument were asked
this question. NANot Available.
17
Number of Persons in HHs Who Currently Play a
Musical Instrument

Question 7 See earlier graph in this section
for wording of question. Dont Know,
Refused, and Not Applicable responses are not
included in the base sizes. Only households with
one or more persons aged five or older who play a
musical instrument were asked this question.
Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
18
Gender of Persons Who Currently Play a Musical
Instrument by Study Year

Question 8 What is the age and gender of
each person in the household, age five or older,
who currently plays a musical instrument?
Dont Know, Refused, and Not Applicable
responses are not included in the base sizes.
Only households with one or more persons aged
five or older who play a musical instrument were
asked this question.
19
Ages of Younger Persons Who Currently Play a
Musical Instrument by Study Year

Question 8 What is the age and gender of
each person in the household, age five or older,
who currently plays a musical instrument?
Dont Know, Refused, and Not Applicable
responses are not included in the base sizes.
Only households with one or more persons aged
five or older who play a musical instrument were
asked this question.
20
Ages of Older Persons Who Currently Play a
Musical Instrument by Study Year

Question 8 See earlier graph in this section
for wording of question. Dont Know, Refused,
and Not Applicable responses are not included
in the base sizes. Only households with one or
more persons aged five or older who play a
musical instrument were asked this question.
21
Ages of Persons Who Currently Play a Musical
Instrument

Question 5 and 8 See earlier graph in this
section for wording of question. Dont Know,
Refused, and Not Applicable responses are not
included in the base sizes. Only households with
one or more persons aged five or older who play a
musical instrument were asked this question.
Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
22
Who Decides in HHs What InstrumentShould Be
Played All Players and by Gender

All Players
Males
Females
Question 10 Who decided what instrument
(each person in household who plays) would play?
Only households with one or more persons aged
five or older who play a musical instrument were
asked this question. NANot Available
23
Who Decides in HHs What Instrument Should Be
Played

Question 10 See earlier graph in this section
for wording of question. Dont Know,
Refused, and Not Applicable responses are not
included in the base sizes. Only households with
one or more persons aged five or older who play a
musical instrument were asked this question.
24
Participation in Formal Music Activities Among
Persons Who Currently Play a Musical Instrument
by Study Year

Question 9 And does (each person in the
household who plays) take private lessons,
participate in school instrumental music
programs, OR take other types of instrumental
music lessons? Each formal music activity was
read separately. Only households with one or
more persons aged five or older who play a
musical instrument were asked this question.
NANot available.
25
Ownership of Musical Instruments
26
Someone in HH Owns a Musical Instrument by Study
Year

Question 17 Do you, or does anyone in this
household, own a musical instrument of any kind?
Dont Know, Refused, and Not Applicable
responses are not included in the base sizes.
27
Someone in HH Owns a Musical Instrument by
Education and Income

Income
Education
Question 17 See earlier graph in this section
for wording of question. Dont Know,
Refused, and Not Applicable responses are not
included in the base sizes.
28
Sources Would Most Likely Consider if Shopping
For or Buying a Musical Instrument

Question 18 If you were going to shop for or
buy a musical instrument, which of the following
sources would you be the most likely to
consider? Dont Know, Refused, and Not
Applicable responses are not included in the
base size. Percentages may not add to 100 due
to rounding. The examples mentioned for
mainstream retailer were Costco, Toys R Us, and
Sears.
29
Would Purchase New or Used When ShoppingFor or
Buying a Musical Instrument

New
Used
Either
Question 19 Would you look to purchase an
instrument that is new or used? Dont Know,
Refused, Other, and Not Applicable
responses are not included in the base size.
Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
30
Personal Experiences and Opinions of Respondents
31
How Initially Got Motivated to StartPlaying a
Musical Instrument by Study Year

Question 5B Who originally motivated you to
start playing a musical instrument? Did
(responses read)? Dont Know, Refused, and
Not Applicable responses are not included in
the base sizes.
32
Age at Which First Learned toPlay a Musical
Instrument by Study Year

Question 5A At what age did you first learn
to play a musical instrument? Dont Know,
Refused, and Not Applicable responses are not
included in the base sizes.
33
Age at Which First Learned toPlay a Musical
Instrument by Gender

Question 5A. See earlier graph in this section
for wording of question. Dont Know,
Refused, and Not Applicable responses are not
included in the base sizes. Only households
where the respondent currently or formerly played
a musical instrument were asked this question.
34
How First Learned to Play a Musical Instrument
by Study Year

Question 5C There are a number of ways to
learn to play a musical instrument. How did you
FIRST learn to play a musical instrument? You
(responses read)? Dont Know, Refused, and
Not Applicable responses are not included in
the base sizes.
35
How First Learned to Play a Musical Instrument
by Gender

Question 5C There are a number of ways to
learn to play a musical instrument. How did you
FIRST learn to play a musical instrument? You
(responses read)? Dont Know, Refused, and
Not Applicable responses are not included in
the base sizes. Only households where the
respondent currently or formerly played a musical
instrument were asked this question. Taught
Self and Friend Taught were significantly
higher at the 90 level of confidence for males
than for females, while Took Private Lessons
was significantly higher for females. This same
pattern was observed in the 1997 study.
36
Have Read, Seen, or Heard About the Benefits
onEducation of Playing a Musical Instrument

Have (n1,005)
Main Source for Reading, Seeing, or Hearing This

(n411)
Questions 1 and 2, as follows Q1 In the
last year, have you read, seen or heard anything
about the benefits of playing a musical
instrument and the health, wellness and positive
effect on education? Q2 Where did you read,
see or hear this information? Only those who
answered yes under Q1 were asked Q2. Dont
Know, Refused, and Not Applicable responses
are not included in the base sizes.
37
Age Believe Children Should be Exposed to Music

Question 3 At what age should children be
exposed to music? Dont Know, Refused, and
Not Applicable responses are not included in
the base sizes.
38
Age Believe Children Should be Exposed to Music
by Gender and Education

Gender
Education
39
Agreement With Attitudes About Music at
thePreschool Level

Questions 4A-B. Using a scale of one to five,
where 5 means strongly agree, and 1 means
strongly disagree, how would you rate . . . A.
Music plays a significant role in preschool
development. B. It is important for children to
engage in musical activities in daycare and/or
preschool. Dont Know, Refused, and Not
Applicable responses are not included in the
base sizes.
40
Agreement With Attitudes About Music at
thePreschool Level by Gender

Questions 4A-B. See earlier graph in this
section for wording of question. Dont Know,
Refused, and Not Applicable responses are not
included in the base sizes.
41
Knowledge and Opinion AboutSenior Citizens Being
Involved in Music

Believe Experience is Positive
(Among Those Who Know)
(n251)
Know of Senior Citizens Involved in Music (n1
,497)
Questions 4A and 4B, as follows Q4A Some
recent studies have shown that being involved
with music is a very positive experience for
senior citizens. Do you know of any senior
citizens that have recently become involved or
re-involved with music and playing an
instrument? Q4B Do you believe this is a
positive experience? Only those who answered
yes for Q4A were asked Q4B. Dont Know,
Refused, and Not Applicable responses are not
included in the base sizes.
42
Attitudes Toward Playing a Musical Instrument
43
Agreement With Social Attitudes About Musicand
Playing Musical Instruments by Study Year

Question 23 I am going to read you some
statements about music and playing musical
instruments. For each, please tell me whether
you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly
disagree, or completely disagree? How about
(each item read and rotated)?
44
Agreement With Attitudes About Personal
BenefitsAssociated With Playing Musical
Instruments by Study Year

Question 23. See earlier graph in this
section for wording of question.
45
Agreement With Attitudes About Learning to Play
Musical Instruments

N1,228
N1,005
N1,403
N1,005
Wish Had Learned to Play Musical Instrument
Would Like to Learn to Play a Musical Instrument
Question 23. See earlier graph in this
section for wording of question. Dont Know,
Refused, and Not Applicable responses are not
included in the base sizes.
46
Agreement With Attitudes About Learning to Play
Musical Instruments (Asked for First Time in
2003)

47
Agreement With Attitudes About MusicEducation in
Schools by Study Year

Question 24 Now, I will read you some
statements about children and teenagers and
playing musical instruments. For each, please
tell me whether you completely agree, mostly
agree, mostly disagree, or completely disagree.
How about (each item read and rotated)?
48
Agreement With Attitudes About Reasons a Child
Should Learn to Play Musical Instruments by Study
Year

Question 24. See earlier graph in this
section for wording of question.
49
Agreement With Other Attitudes About Reasons a
Child Should Learn to Play Musical Instruments by
Study Year

Question 24. See earlier graph in this
section for wording of question.
50
Agreement With Attitudes About Reasons a Child
Should Learn to Play an Instruments

Question 24. See earlier graph in this
section for wording of question.
51
Attitudes About Music and Playing Musical
Instruments (Asked for First Time in 2003)

Strongly Agree
Very Likely
Question 22A Using a 5-point scale where 5
means very likely and 1 means very unlikely, how
likely would you be to want to learn to play a
musical instrument if musical instruments cost
less to own or rent?
Question 22B Using a 5-point scale where 5
means strongly agree and 1 means strongly
disagree, please tell me how much you agree or
disagree that you would be more likely to
actively participate in music making if
scientific research found that recreational music
making improved your health and well-being.
52
Demographics for Year 2003 Study
53
Respondent Gender, Age, and Whether a Student or
Not

Gender (n1,005)
Age (n1,005)
Student (n1,005)
Questions D1, D2, and D4, as follows D1
Gender--recorded, not asked. D2 Please tell me
how old you are? D4 Are you currently a
student? Dont Know, Refused, and Not
Applicable responses are not included in the
base sizes.
54
Respondent Marital Status, Education, and Race

Married (n1,005)
College Grad. (n1,005)
Race/Ethnicity (n1,005)
Questions D10, D3, and D6/D7, as follows
D10 What is your marital status? D3 What
is the highest level of education you have
completed? D6/D7 Are you, yourself, of
Hispanic origin or descent, such as Mexican,
Puerto Rican, Cuban, or other Spanish
background? What is your race? Are you white,
African-American, or some other race? Dont
Know, Refused, and Not Applicable responses
are not included in the base sizes.