When instrumentalists sing

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the impact that choral singing has on instrumental students’ development as musicians. Instrumental music students (N = 23) enrolled in a choral elective module at a tertiary music conservatory completed an eight-item questionnaire. Descriptive answers were collated and interpreted revealing six broad-based learning outcomes relating to physical awareness, ensemble skills, theoretical and aural skills, musicality and interpretation, aesthetic awareness, and communication and meaning. This article explores each learning outcome, as well as the experiential learning environment that is created when instrumentalists step outside of their major discipline into the choral experience. The self-reflective surveys ultimately revealed that participation in a choir can have immense impact upon instrumental students’ development as well-rounded musicians, fostering the development of musicianship and personal artistry.