Perspectives of a Transgender Music Education Student

The purpose of this study was to present a narrative account of one gender-variant music student and his experiences as a music education major at a small private college. The question guiding this study was as follows: In what ways can one transgender music education student’s lived experiences and identity development inform discourse in the music education community? A semistructured interview protocol was used, with approximately 14 weekly one-on-one meetings with the student. The student was allowed to share his perspectives as a transgender student throughout public school and leading to his decision to major in music education via the interview protocol. Data were coded based on recurring patterns that emerged from the interviews and participant-generated artifacts. Member checks and a peer examiner were used to ensure faithful interpretation of the data. The participant’s family interaction influenced his transgender identity development, his internalized transphobia gave way to self-acceptance, and he eventually took an active role in advocating for fellow transgender individuals. Implications for music teacher preparation programs and professional development are discussed, and future directions for research are recommended