An exploration of flow experiences among California Central Valley high school instrumental music students / by Christine Marie Montanez.

In the wake of the No Child Left Behind Act, parity in education results for all students has become the prevailing objective in schools. By examining optimal learning environments, we can suggest to educators how to implement Flow Theory in order to achieve this goal. This chronological mixed methods study provides baseline data on the flow phenomenon, explored factors and conditions influencing the flow experience, and examined perceived benefits, facilitators, and inhibitors of flow in the music environment. The study identified and described demographic characteristics of a sample (N=481) of California Central Valley high school instrumental music students. Additionally, this study sought to determine if differences exist among each demographic characteristic (gender, instrument group, performing group, performance participation outside of school, and mother s education) on the nine flow state dimension subscale scores. Further analysis examined the relationship between students nine flow state dimension subscale scores and experience in years playing, duration of practice weekly, and years of private study. Both a quantitative approach, through descriptive survey and correlation research, and qualitative methods were used. Instruments included an electronically administered Flow State Scale-2 (FSS-2) survey (N=481) followed by individual interviews of 24 _high flow status?? participants. Results indicated that outside school performance contexts differ from inside school performance environments in ways that may affect flow experiences and flow status of students. Both quantitative and qualitative data suggest that certain facilitators and inhibitors exist that are more apt to produce or prevent a flow experience in a particular setting or with a specific population. Results obtained from the data reduction coding method revealed six overarching themes specific to participants descriptions of flow facilitators and inhibitors. Facilitators include optimal physical preparation, mental preparation, and optimal environment, and inhibitors include non-optimal physical preparation, mental distracters, and non- optimal environment