Music inclination of the children between the ages of 11 and 14 in Istanbul middle schools

Music is one of the most important factors that affect the cultural life in today's world. It shapes both the cultural and the social lives of people. Otherwise, the culture of area being lived effects the claim of music directly. This study investigated the relationship between the music and the social lives of youngsters between the ages of 11 and 14. It also examined the relationship between music genres, regions, and musical education. With the aim of analyzing the music genres preferred by youngsters, the concepts of popular music and popular culture; the study reviewed the music genres performed in Turkey. It also includes general information about popular music, its relationship with the music preferences of the new generation, the examination of popular music practices during the process of music taste determination, and some suggestions and evaluation for this process. In addition to this, music has a complicated history as a topic of social research because music requires a mental activity in humans. As a complex human activity, music likes are naturally an area of interest especially to sociology. This circumstance indicates that social and individual differences of the listener must be considered. In the study conducted for the students, among the factors such as culture and income level, gender also plays a significant role in the results. Music taste of the individuals in the relevant ages differs with regard to gender as well as many factors such as social conditions, family structure, and cultural structure. In addition, the assortative effects of music include all the individuals of social classes. Therefore, popular concepts and preferences differing regionally provide an insight about the understanding of the region. The real subject to be discussed here is which regions listen to the less preferred music genres above or below the average. When we examine the properties of schools above or below the average, we can see many factors that can affect the result. In conclusion, the aim of the study is (1) to explain and assess the students' music taste, and views on popular culture and popular music considering the regional and family variability; (2) to analyze in deep, to interpret and to observe how the music taste differ among the young individuals in districts with different living standards; (3) to shed some light on the issues that need to be handled in the guidance process of students through mass media and school life.