The study aimed to investigate how students in lower secondary schools in England perceive the subject of music in terms of its importance and enjoyment. Following findings from the first survey phase of the project, it specifically sought to shed light on the reasons why the majority of students decide not to choose music as one of their optional subjects at GCSE level. The paper presents interview findings with students in three schools at the north-east of England following the phenomenographic method of data analysis. Among factors found to impact on students’ decision to continue music at Key Stage 4 (ages 14–16 years) were the desire to spend more time learning music, having more choice and autonomy in the classroom, having more information about the content and requirements of GCSE music, feeling disadvantaged due to not being proficient at instrumental playing and having a limited perception of their own musicality or perceiving music as being elite or difficult. The findings are discussed in terms of their practical implications for the teaching and learning of music in secondary schools.

该研究旨在调查英国初中学生如何看待音乐学科的重要性和乐趣。根据该项目第一阶段调查的结果，它特别试图阐明为什么大多数学生决定不选择音乐作为 GCSE 级别的选修科目之一。本文采用现象学数据分析方法，介绍了对英格兰东北部三所学校学生的采访结果。影响学生在关键阶段 4（14-16 岁）继续学习音乐的决定的因素包括希望花更多时间学习音乐、在课堂上拥有更多选择和自主权、了解更多有关内容和要求的信息GCSE 音乐的学生，由于不精通器乐演奏而感到处于不利地位，并且对自己的音乐性认知有限或认为音乐是精英或困难的。研究结果对中学音乐教学的实际意义进行了讨论。