Choristers` Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Strategies Adopted for Effective Transfer of Musical Knowledge Among Mainline and Pentecostal Churches in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria.

Abstract

The study investigated choristers' socio-demographic characteristics and strategies to effectively transfer musical knowledge among Mainline and Pentecostal Christian church Choirs in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain relevant data for the study. The multi-stage sampling procedure was employed for the study, while a simple random sampling technique was adopted to select 367 choristers across Mainline and Pentecostal churches. This was further subjected to face validity and reliability tests using the split-half method. A Cronbach Alpha value of 0.8>α≤0.7 attested to the instrument's reliability. Frequency distribution, standard deviation, bar chart, mean ( ), chi square, analysis of variance, and independent samples t-test were the analytical tools used for the study. Choristers strongly agreed that music instructors and leaders should be musically skilful as a fundamental strategy for effectively transferring musical knowledge. A significant relationship exists between strategies for the transfer of musical knowledge and age (c2=11.058), marital status (c2=8.902), educational status (c2=9.959), voice part used (c2=19.077) and years spent as a chorister (c2=5.506). A significant difference exists in the mean ratings of strategies for the effective transfer of musical knowledge (t=-2.122) across churches selected for the study. There is a significant relationship between the need for musical knowledge transfer and strategies such as training instructors and improving their knowledge and skilfulness (t=-3.057; p≤0.05), simplicity of teaching and learning methods and interchange of methods, among others, were seen as a primary requirement for effective transfer of music knowledge. It is recommended that instructors, directors and choristers be musically trained, knowledgeable, and skilful for the overall development of the church music industry.