CHOICE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND GENDER STEREOTYPES: A STUDY OF SELECTED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNITY COLLEGES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Choice of musical instrument is among the most important factors in determining the course of a student's music education. Instrument selection can be a lengthy process accomplished through a variety of factors. The stereotyping of instruments by gender can, unfortunately, be one of those factors. The association of gender with particular instruments can significantly influence a student in choosing a musical instrument, thereby resulting in numerous negative consequences— including fewer instrument choices, limited ensemble participation, and peer disapproval. The purpose of this paper is to examine the causes of this gender stereotyping as applicable to choice of selected musical instruments among students in the purposively selected thirteen Federal Government Unity Colleges in Southwestern Nigeria and make recommendations for future investigation and possible interventions. Participant observation and descriptive methods were applied for data collections and analyses of findings, further information were collected via libraries, archives and the internet. The paper concludes that choice of musical instrument is no longer limited to gender stereotyping as both male and female can pick up any musical instrument of their choice; and that female students can do well in musical instruments which are fundamentally believed to be masculine in nature. Keywords: - Musical Instruments; Gender; Choice; Stereotypes.