List of Tables

List of Figures

1 Introduction
1.1 Purpose of the study
1.2 Mixed methods
1.3 Structure of the thesis

2 Situating the study within the field of comparative music education
2.1 Comparative music education
2.2 Comparative education
      2.2.1 Contents of comparative education
      2.2.2 Single-country vs. comparative studies
      2.2.3 Methodology and methods
      2.2.4 The role and position of the researcher in the research process
2.3 Positioning the present study within the research field of comparative music education

3 Context
3.1 The Sultanate of Oman
      3.1.1 Early history
      3.1.2 Ibadism
      3.1.3 The Ya’arubi dynasty
      3.1.4 The al-Busa’idi dynasty
      3.1.5 The Sultans of Muscat
      3.1.6 The reign of Sultan Qaboos
         Development of public services
         Development of healthcare services
         Development of education
         Employment
         The building of a nation
         Demographic composition of the Omani population
         Tribal structures in Oman
         Religion
         Challenges
3.2 Islam and music
      3.2.1 Legal (Shari’ah) perspectives
      3.2.2 Linguistic aspects
      3.2.3 Hierarchy of genres
      3.2.4 Major ideological positions
      3.2.5 The status of music and musicians within the society
3.3 Music in Oman
      3.3.1 Military bands
      3.3.2 Royal Bands of Arab Music and Folklore
      3.3.3 Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra (ROSO)
      3.3.4 Oman Centre for Traditional Music (OCTM)
      3.3.5 Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM)
      3.3.6 Music education in the public schools
      3.3.7 Challenges
3.4 Department of Music & Musicology
      3.4.1 Curriculum
      3.4.2 Admission
      3.4.3 Students
      3.4.4 Faculty
      3.4.5 Accreditation of the programme of the DMM

4 Theoretical frameworks
4.1 Motivation
4.2 Self-Determination Theory
      4.2.1 SDT’s organismic dialectic approach
      4.2.2 Basic psychological needs
      4.2.3 Cognitive Evaluation Theory (CET)
      4.2.4 Organismic Integration Theory (OIT)
      4.2.5 Causality Orientations Theory (COT)
      4.2.6 Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT)
      4.2.7 Goal Contents Theory (GCT)
      4.2.8 Relationships Motivation Theory (RMT)
4.3 SDT in music education research
      4.3.1 SDT research with children and adolescents
      4.3.2 SDT research with music students

5 Phase One
5.1 Method
      5.1.1 Participant information
      5.1.2 Academic motivation: Academic Motivation Scale (AMS)
      5.1.3 Perceived competence: Perceived Competence Scale (PCS)
      5.1.4 Practice motivation: Self-Regulation Questionnaire – Practice (SRQ-P)
      5.1.5 Perceived autonomy support: Learning Climate Questionnaire (LCQ)
      5.1.6 Translation of the questionnaire
      5.1.7 Study procedures
      5.1.8 Participants
      5.1.9 Data analysis
5.2 Results
      5.2.1 Academic Motivation Scale (AMS C-28)
      5.2.2 Self-Regulation Questionnaire – Practice (SRQ-P)
      5.2.3 Perceived Competence Scale (PCS) and Learning Climate Questionnaire (LCQ)
      5.2.4 Multiple hierarchical regression analyses
5.3 Discussion

6 Phase Two
6.1 Method
      6.1.1 Meta-theoretical positioning
      6.1.2 Recruitment, participants, and data collection
      6.1.3 Interviews
      6.1.4 Analysis
      6.1.5 Reflexivity
6.2 Results
      6.2.1 “You get a degree, you get a job, you get money”
      6.2.2 “I have to love what I study”
      6.2.3 “You have to be strong” – to do music in Oman
      6.2.4 “Real” music education
      6.2.5 “It is basically practice”
      6.2.6 “Teachers play a very important role”
      6.2.7 I know what music is about, not like others
6.3 Discussion

7 General Discussion

8 Strengths and limitations

9 Conclusion

References