A Cross-Cultural Investigation of the Musical Tastes of Korean, American, and Australian University Students Focusing on Informal and Formal Musical Experiences

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine whether Korean students' musical taste has become westernized by comparing their musical taste with American and Australian students' musical tastes. A total of 260 students: 92 Korean, 65 American, and 103 Australian participated in answering the Musical Taste Questionnaire (MTQ) and the Musical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ) on their university campus. The results showed that: (a) Korean students' ratings for Korean popular music were significantly higher than their ratings for Western Popular music: (b) Korean students' ratings for Korean traditional music was significantly higher than American and Australian students' ratings: (c) There were so significant differences in ratings for Western Classical music between Koran and American students: and (d) Korean students' ratings for Western classical music were significantly higher than their ratings for Korean traditional music. The results indicate that Korean musical taste has not become westernized completely. It retains an element of uniqueness.