POPULAR MUSIC PREFERENCES AMONG MUSIC STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN VIHIGA COUNTY KENYA

ABSTRACT: This paper explores the music preferences of the music students in the secondary schools inVihiga County. Studies have revealed that 90% of youth in Kenya are inclined towards Popular music and dodemonstrate distaste towards traditional music and classical music expressions. In what appears to be acontradiction, the Kenya Secondary Music Curriculum has scanty popular music content compared to Westernmusic which enjoys over 60% worth of content. It is in view of this contradiction that this study sought toestablish music preferences among music students in secondary schools that offer music in Vihiga County. Thestudy addressed the following specific objectives: establish musical expressions and programmes experienced inthe selected schools in Vihiga County; establish popular music preferences among the music students in VihigaCountry; discuss content gaps in the secondary music curriculum. The results revealed thatall the schoolactivities (symposiums, cultural days, entertainment, sports, and others) that took place outside class were allaccompanied by popular music. Over 95% of respondents affirmed the need to include popular music content inthe Kenya Secondary Music Curriculum. In addition, it was evident that students expressed fair amount ofinterest in contemporary popular music with a majority indicating guitar,keyboards, modern drum sets, andpercussion instruments as instruments they would like to learn how to play. The study concluded that there is anurgent need to includepopular music in Kenya Secondary School Curriculum as one of the ways to addressstudents‟ musical preferences and equip them with skills that are market.

Key words: Popular music, Music curriculum, Inclusion, Secondary school