Life After a Secondary Music Ensemble:
An Instrumental Case Study of Former Ensemble Musicians
Author:
Ryan Hill ’24Co-Authors:
Faculty Mentor(s):
Nicholas Roseth, Music EducationFunding Source:
The Bobko-Dennis FundAbstract
The purpose of this instrumental case study was to explore the experiences of former ensemble musicians and their views on collaboration during their secondary education experience. The analysis of collaboration was done through the framework of Collaboration Theory, with six components including building group cohesion, influencing others, observing and doing, organizing work, status seeking, and turn-taking. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and then coded and analyzed, then organized into themes. The participants’ responses indicated thoughtful reflection of their past experiences in middle and high school. The participants discussed and responded to questions about the individual components of Collaboration Theory and found it relevant in the secondary music classroom. They listed multiple ways their directors or peers facilitated those communal experiences, with students generally appreciating their smaller group time and an organized rehearsal space. Collaboration Theory was found to be an effective framework for discussing and implementing collaborative practices in secondary music education.