Influence of Primary Personality Trait and Age on String Orchestra Music Preference.

This article investigates the relationships among orchestra musicians' ages, primary personality traits (Openness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability), and their preferences for string orchestra repertoire characterized by two music attribute dimensions: Arousal (intensity and energy) and Valence (emotional spectrum). Surveying 362 participants across four groups—middle school, high school, collegiate orchestra students, and in-service orchestra teachers—the study found that younger students (middle and high school) significantly preferred Arousal-type music more than collegiate students and teachers, while participants with Extraversion as their primary personality trait favored Arousal repertoire over Valence. Additionally, Extraversion was most common among middle school and collegiate students, whereas Conscientiousness predominated among in-service teachers. These findings suggest that understanding the interplay of age and personality traits can assist orchestra educators in selecting repertoire that better engages diverse student groups.