ERIC Number: EJ859045
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Apr-21
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1529-8094
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Music Making, Transcendence, Flow, and Music Education
Bernard, Rhoda
International Journal of Education & the Arts, v10 n14 Apr 2009
This study explores the relationship between flow, transcendent music making experiences, transcendent religious experiences, and music education. As a teacher-researcher, I studied my graduate students' autobiographical accounts of their experiences making music. Across these narrative writings produced over the past four years, a pattern emerged: many of the texts describe transcendent experiences. Transcendent music making experiences are distinguished by two main qualities: (a) that the performer is functioning at the height of his or her abilities; and (b) that the performer has a sense of being a part of something larger than him or herself in some way. The concept of transcendent music making experiences provides powerful insights into a unique feature of musical engagement. Music educators at all levels can relate to and learn from a more nuanced understanding of the unique qualities of musical engagement. (Contains 5 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Graduate Students, Music Education, Music Teachers, Correlation, Religion, Personal Narratives, Music Activities, Student Motivation, Autobiographies
International Journal of Education & the Arts. 1310 South 6th Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 402-472-9958; Fax: 402-472-2837; Web site: http://www.ijea.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A