A growing concern is the low number of learners who choose to participate in music during their high school years. Extending previous research by McPherson and O’Neill, this study explored South African high school learners’ motivation and value perceptions to continue with music as an elective in grade 10. A further objective was to understand how value perceptions vary according to grade, gender, and intention to continue with music. 180 music leaners in grades 9 and 10 completed questionnaires modeled on those by McPherson and O’Neill, based on the expectancy-value framework. Results show that learners value music less than physical sciences and life sciences/biology, but more than history, geography, and accounting/EMS. Overall, outcomes show that learners who select music exhibit higher (and more intrinsic) value perceptions for music than for other electives and hold a higher value perception for all electives combined. Males hold higher value perceptions for music than females.

越来越多的担忧是选择在高中时期参加音乐的学习者人数很少。本研究扩展了 McPherson 和 O'Neill 之前的研究，探讨了南非高中学生在 10 年级继续将音乐作为选修课的动机和价值观念。进一步的目标是了解价值观念如何根据年级、性别、并打算继续音乐。180 名 9 年级和 10 年级的音乐学习者完成了以 McPherson 和 O'Neill 的问卷为模型，基于期望值框架的问卷。结果表明，学习者对音乐的重视程度低于物理科学和生命科学/生物学，但高于历史、地理和会计/EMS。总体，结果表明，与其他选修课相比，选择音乐的学习者对音乐表现出更高（和更内在）的价值感知，并且对所有选修课的总和具有更高的价值感知。男性对音乐的价值认知高于女性。