A Familiar Narrative: Males, Singing, and Masculinity

Abstract The purpose of this chapter is to understand why males sing, why they do not, and what may be done to encourage and support their participation. The chapter includes a review of extant literature with a summary of salient issues and potential solutions. The first section begins with a brief historical narrative of “missing males” in the United States and abroad to establish the scope of the perceived problem and rationale for this chapter. The second section includes a discussion of perceptions of singing and factors that influence singing interest and participation, with a focus on prominent explanations of “missing males” by music education scholars. The chapter concludes with a summary of research on successful pedagogical practices and recommendations for the future that may be helpful for music education practitioners and researchers.