As musicians, we often define ourselves primarily through our performance abilities. Whether we are classical instrumentalists, jazz singers, or the latest TikTok sensation, most musicians commonly spend years honing their technical skills and artistic expression.
But what if there's more to being a musician in today's world? What if our musical abilities could serve an even greater purpose?
Recent research and shifting perspectives in music education are challenging the traditional notion of what it means to be a musician (Gaunt et al., 2021). While excellence in performance remains valuable, there's growing recognition that musicians and singers can play a vital role in promoting social connection, wellbeing, and community health (Forbes, 2024). Musicians are already pushing these boundaries, finding new ways to use their skills to impact their communities meaningfully (Westerlund & Karttunen, 2024).
Take the Stairwell Project as one example, where musicians provide "sonic care" to hospital patients, providing a calming presence for patients and hospital staff alike. Some recent research has considered the impact of this type of work on the musicians as well.
In one study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, classical musicians performed via Zoom for patients in a maternity ward in London. They discovered that in this setting, musical excellence wasn't just about technical virtuosity but about creating deeply personal, meaningful moments for each patient. These musicians showed how adaptable our craft can be, finding ways to blend artistic skill with social connection, even when mediated through cameras and a computer screen. Their experiences are helping to reshape our understanding of what "success" means for musicians in the 21st century. As the authors Shaughnessy et al. (2024, p. 58) emphasise, it is "imperative for higher music education to prepare and train musicians for this type of work."
Similarly, a study by Bro et al. (2024) of music students performing in two intensive care units (ICUs) in Denmark revealed something profound about the nature of musical excellence. Free from the usual pressures of concert halls and critical audiences, these musicians discovered a more authentic way of connecting through music. Musicians experienced a deep sense of human connection and expanded sense of their own musical identity. Once again, the authors call for higher music education institutions to consider how musicians' training might reflect the values which underpin this type of work. This would, in turn, support more musicians to work in healthcare settings.
These examples represent a significant shift in how we might think about our roles as musicians. They show us that our training and skills can have impact far beyond the concert hall, creating meaningful connections and positive change in unexpected places. And that this work is excellent. I love the concept of "good work"—"good work" is excellent, ethical, and engaged (Gardner et al., 2001). The examples above are wonderful cases of musicians doing excellent, ethical, and socially engaged work: good work, which benefits themselves and others.
This evolution in musical practice reflects broader changes in how we understand the role of arts in society. Music education institutions are gradually recognising the need to prepare musicians not just as performers, but as "makers in society" who can engage with and lead their communities in meaningful ways (Forbes, 2024; Gaunt et al., 2021). These ideas combine artistic craft with social purpose, creating opportunities for musicians to develop new forms of excellence that encompass both technical skill and social impact.
For working musicians, this expanded view of musicianship opens up exciting possibilities. Whether it's working in healthcare settings, leading community music programs, or integrating social goals into traditional performance settings, there are numerous ways to combine musical expertise with social impact.
The key is understanding that this isn't an either/or proposition—we don't have to choose between artistic excellence or social engagement. Instead, we can develop a more nuanced and fulfilling approach to musicianship that honours artistic training and musicians' vast potential to contribute to community wellbeing.
As our society faces increasing challenges with social isolation and disconnection, musicians have a unique opportunity to be an innovative part of the solution. Excellent musical training can be leveraged to create social connections, ensuring our very human art form remains vital and relevant in today's technology-obsessed world.
References
Bro, M. L., Smilde, R., Thorn, L., Fischer, S., Hosbond, K., Larsen, C. S., & Dreyer, P. (2024). Live music in the ICU: A qualitative study of music students’ perspectives. Musicae Scientiae, 10298649241300440. https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649241300440
Forbes, M. (2024). Addressing the global crisis of social connection: Singers as positively energizing leaders who create belonging in our communities. Voice and Speech Review, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/23268263.2024.2368961
Gardner, H., Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Damon, W. (2001). Good work: When excellence and ethics meet. Basic Books.
Gaunt, H., Duffy, C., Coric, A., González Delgado, I. R., Messas, L., Pryimenko, O., & Sveidahl, H. (2021). Musicians as “makers in society”: A conceptual foundation for contemporary professional higher music education. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713648
Shaughnessy, C., Hall, A., & Perkins, R. (2024). Becoming the right musician for the job: Versatility, connectedness, and professional identities during personalized, online music-making in hospital maternity wards. Musicae Scientiae, 28(1), 58-75. https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649231165028
Westerlund, H., & Karttunen, S. (2024). The protean music career as a sociopolitical orientation: The mutually integrated, non-hierarchical work values of socially engaged musicians. Musicae Scientiae, 28(3), 502–519. https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649231222548
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