In this project, we explore what characterises the choices, ambitions and dreams of music students and musicians in the early stages of their careers. Through qualitative interviews with music students in performing arts master's programmes and with musicians who have recently completed their education, we discuss what sustainable performance careers can mean today, how informants negotiate narratives of success and the driving forces behind pursuing a career in music.
Taken together, this will answer the following research questions:
- What discourses about success characterise the career choices of music students and established musicians?
- How do motivation and sense of meaning influence the career choices of musicians and music students?
Planned documentation and dissemination
- The results of the project will be disseminated in two to three scientific articles in 2026–2027.
- Preliminary findings were presented at the Nordic music education conference NNRME at Hurdalsjøen in 2025 in two paper presentations.