An investigative study

on how various factors affect a student’s preference

in choosing music as a major.

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements

In

Research

For Communication Arts in English 10

Submitted to:

Mr. Danny Osboken Balance, M.A.

Course Facilitator of Research

Junior High School, University of Santo Tomas

España, Manila, Philippines

Submitted by:

Angelo Rei L. Ramos

Grade 10 - Saint Dionysius

Submitted on:
ABSTRACT

This study investigated the factors that affect a student in choosing music as their major.

The researcher gathered information from student’s who are passionate about their music and if

they would consider it as their long-term career. As a graduating student from the University of

Santo Tomas, would they choose music over other courses such as Engineering, Architecture, and

so on? Moreover, this study will seek if being a musician is still relevant despite being said that it

is only a passion not a profession.

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Music plays an important role in human life. It allows people to feel certain type of

emotions whether happy, lively, sad, calm or etc. Other than entertainment, people also listen to

music as their way to cope with sadness and it can be a great help to uplift their mood in order for

them to feel joyful and optimistic.

Moreover, music is “a vibrant manifestation of oneself or an expression and evidence of

culture and traditions of a group of people or an entire civilization. Similar to other intangible or

tangible materials of heritage, music as a form of language has to continuously be communicated

to the succeeding generations so as not to lose its intrinsic worth, symbols and forms, as well as

its varying meanings.” (Buenrostro,2013) As time passes by, music has strongly built connection

from generation to generation in which it fuels people’s minds and thus it fuels their creativity.

However, despite the great significance of music, people see to it as something that you cannot do

for living. Many would say that pursuing music is only a passion; which means that it is where

you find solace and take refuge in difficult times. Passion is where you find happiness and lets you

enjoy for being who you truly are. Unlike being an engineer, a doctor, a lawyer, and so on; most

people believe that if you want to be successful these are occupations that they refer to as

profession in which they have to strive for continuous development and update in your field to

become better. Although it can be quite difficult for them because it is not their passion they chose

to cling on it because they wanted to abide by rules and procedure to stick to norms and standards.

Most of the musicians are deprived of rightful wages and only a few are given an opportunity to

become well off.

 The purpose of this study is to present the various factors that affect a student in choosing

music as their major. Hence, the researcher conducted a survey and an interview to the selected

graduating students of University of Santo Tomas. Furthermore, this study will seek the students

opinion about the importance of music and how it has been part of their life. If yes, would they

consider music as their work to earn a living?

Statement of the Problem

The greatest disadvantages of being a musician is lacking of steady schedule or a stable

income. Many people said that building a career in music is good but they still need to have a

backup plan, which primarily means that this cannot be their work in the long run. Based on the

gathered information, most musicians spent their day creating music but not all of them are

successful. Some think of finding another job that offers salary because they cannot survive with

their music alone.

Main Question

There are people who really love music but they still chose to change their career path. So,

the main question here is, what are the various factors that affects students preference in choosing

music as a major.

Sub-Questions

1. Are the students happy in pursuing their profession rather than their passion despite

obstacles that awaits them?

2. Does choosing the career path of music, particularly an instrumentalist, affect their living

situation?

3. How do you think they will overcome the problem of being deprived of a stable income?

Significance of the Study

This study will show the importance of music and how it greatly influenced the people

listening to it. The researcher will help to promote the musicians, particularly the instrumentalist,

because without them there is no music that exists. People must show great respect to these people

because they have a great impact in their life. Supporting them means, these artists will constantly

learn to widen their horizons and options in music to satisfy their audiences.
Scope and Delimitations

This study will mainly focus on the importance and how it affect the students preference

in choosing music as major. The students that will be interviewed are selected from the University

of Santo Tomas. Hence, the researcher will gather information in order to prove that music is not

only a passion but also it can be a profession.

Definition of Terms

Music – The science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in

temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity.

Musician – A composer, conductor, or performer of music.

Instrument – A device used to produce music.

Instrumentalist – A player of a musical instrument

 CHAPTER II

METHODOLOGY

Research Design and Method

In this study, the researcher distributed an online questionnaire to selected 20 students from

the University of Santo Tomas who are passionate about music and the researcher interviewed

them if they would consider music as their career in the future. Why and why not?

Instrument

The researcher made an online survey that will ask their age, gender, and the major they

have decided to take in the conservatory of music for college. On the other hand, the researcher

conducted a face to face interview with the selected students in which they have been asked about

their opinion on the significance of music in today’s generation and what is their perspective on

the various factors that affect them in choosing music as their major.

Data Gathering Procedure

The gathered data from the survey and interview will demonstrate the factors that affect

the students in choosing music as their major.

 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Insert to Chapter III)

In this part of the study, the researcher will present the respondents age, gender, and the

major they have decided to take in the conservatory of music for college.

AGE

Less than 16

16 - 18

19 – 22

GENDER

Male

Female
WHAT MAJOR IN MUSIC DO YOU WANT TO TAKE?

Piano

Guitar

Trumpet

Violin