This study describes the school-wide motivation culture of an elementary music program that has an exceptional record of stimulating students' continuing motivation to participate in music ensembles on the middle school level. Participant observer techniques and open-ended interviews were used to gather data that were analyzed using the theoretical model taken from Maehr's “Transforming School Culture to Enhance Motivation.” It was found that the principal in this context was supportive of the music program and according to Maehr's theoretical framework, was instrumental in creating a school-wide environment supportive of student task-goal adoption, thus stimulating continuing motivation.
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