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Cosmopolitan musicianship under construction: Digital musicians illuminating emerging values in music education

International Journal of Music Education

Published online on

Abstract

This instrumental case study aims to explore meanings and values in digital musical culture, and to reflect on them in relation to wider conceptualizations of musicianship in the field of music education. The study employs a narrative-biographical approach in analyzing the music-related life stories of a group of practitioners at a London-based music college, whose music-making practices utilize mainly or only digital technologies (they are hence referred to as ‘digital musicians’). The results suggest that those values emphasizing aspects of musical versatility and flexibility, as well as mobility between various musical communities of practice, are specifically connected with digital musicianship. In this study, the values relate to ‘musical cosmopolitanism’, and are believed to furnish possibilities for application to pedagogical/educational practices as well as providing a way forward for 21st century professional musicians.