It is widely known that didactic music literature and classical music is the core of specialized and non-specialized music education in Macedonia. However, nowadays, the term “music” implies new expansions on a geographical, temporal and stylistic level. As a result, professional musicians and music pedagogues are specifically interested in the relation between music education and existing music culture.
We have already gained some understanding of current tastes in music through the music education methodology classes carried out in the elementary schools. Bearing in mind the significance of the issue, we decided to conduct a test survey which would have the following features: 1) it would provide initial insight into the situation 2) it would help us conceptualize a larger project dealing with the factors that influence the music taste of this population group.
        In order to achieve this goal, we carried out the survey in two 5th grade classes: 25 subjects in the elementary school “Vojdan Chernodrinski”, Skopje (capital of Macedonia, central municipal region), and 28 subjects in the elementary school “Krste P. Misirkov”, Gevgelija (in the south of the Republic of Macedonia). Evidently, this is a small, yet, we presume, typical population of fifth-graders who study by the same curriculum and program and are exposed to similar external influence.
In order to avoid discrimination of the responses, we decided to employ a survey containing the following two questions:

        Both questions were open, without limits in terms of the numbers of answers.
        We made the survey on 21.11.2003 in Skopje, surveyor Viktorija Kolarovska - Gmirja, and 24.12.2003 in Gevgelija, surveyor Suzana Stojanovska. The procedure of both surveys was identical: the first question was written on the board, all the students were to answer in written form on the distributed sheets of paper, on the sign given by the surveyor, the sheets were turned over and the same procedure was followed for the second question. The possibility of copying, negotiation, and loud discussions was reduced to the minimum level with the presence of several assistants of the surveyor (the head teacher or teacher of the class and the students at UKIM FM), who also provided a quick and concurrent return of the papers.
        The use of the above-mentioned procedure of open questions and answers made the diversity of material evident. For each class we formed a database containing two categories corresponding with the questions. Their further examination was to establish the frequent distribution of data, as well as the relation between the two categories in each class, followed by a comparison of the correspondent data in both classes.

        SKOPJE, Category 1, (“Favorite singers”). The responses of the 25 subjects amounted to a total of 76 responses, of which 31 are different. They are distributed in the following manner:

(the last response actually refers to the next question: what kind of music do you like).

        The first answer indicates the main preference of the Skopje fifth-graders: pop music.

       Category 2 (“What kind of music do you like”). There are 41 responses, of which 15 are different. They are distributed in the following manner:

        These responses prove that generally, the students have good orientation within the music genres and styles, and seem to establish the genre easily.
        Table 5 shows the obvious preference of pop music among children. If techno, rap, and even “new style folk” music are considered as popular music genres, the dominance of popular music is truly unquestionable.
        This partly refers to the issue of the generally existing interrelation of the responses.

        The data obtained in Gevgelija was analysed in the same manner.

        GEVGELIJA, Category 1, (Favorite singers). 28 surveyed students produced 100 responses, of which 32 are different. They are distributed in the following manner:

        Evidently, the students from Gevgjelija produced more responses (the students from Skopje produced from one to four responses), which proves that these students’ inclinations are less defined.

        The students from Skopje and Gevgelija have 14 singers in common (from a total of 31 and 32 singers): Karolina Gocheva, Britney Spears, Toshe Proeski, Eminem, Shakira, Natalia Oreiro, Celine Dion, Sasho, Kristina Aguilera, Beyonce, Elena Ristevska, Martin Vuchic, Vlado Janevski.

        There is greater variety in the data collected in Gevgelija - the name of a singer of “new style folk” appears, as well as the accidental names of Mozart and Beethoven.

        The presentation of the top five positions in Skopje and Gevgelija is particularly interesting:

        Four out of five (six in Gevgelija) names are the same, which proves that there is a high sense of taste uniformity and awareness (or feeling) of the popularity of various singers.

       Category 2 (“What kind of music do you like”). 50 answers were produced, of which 12 are different. They are distributed in the following manner:

        It is evident that on a scale from one to three, the students from Gevgelija generally produce one response. This indicates a greater certainty towards the preference of genre.

        The general similarity of both environments is also evident, since popular music is rated first in both environments, and the second and third rating belongs to rap and folk music.

        The most relevant conclusion is that this segment of the population notes a serious inconsistency between the educational programs and the existing taste preferences.
        Therefore, we may conclude that the test survey carried out in the fifth grades of the elementary schools “Vojdan Chernodrinski” in Skopje and “Krste P. Misirkov” in Gevgelija has achieved the established goals and purposes:
- initial insight into the situation;
- a basis for the conceptualization of a larger research project dealing with the factors that influence the music taste of the elementary school population.