Transactional Culture of the Portfolio Career Chamber Musician: A Case Study

Abstract

professionals?This line of questioning serves the larger purpose of understanding the innovative role chamber music plays in contemporary collaborative music making and listening, responding to current hypotheses and discourses on the empathetic nature of music.We examine contemporary issues in chamber-music pedagogy with a mixed-method approach.We survey faculty, students, and alumni of American and UK institutions to gather big data on the state of conservatory training.To nuance these data further, we conduct interviews with faculty, staff, and students in standout chamber music programs.Finally, we focus on innovative chamber music endeavors at our present institution, investigating the Chicago College of Performing Arts string chamber music program and the 1st-year professional training course. Evolving, Surviving, and Thriving: Working as a Chamber Musician in the 21st Century by Caroline Waddington-JonesExisting research into chamber musicians' careers has offered insights into both musical and social aspects of these musicians' work together.However, in addition to their tendency to focus solely on the experiences of string quartet musicians, these earlier studies document the experiences of chamber musicians of the late 20th century.With the rise of the internet and digital technologies, innovative approaches to audience development, and cuts to arts funding and education, much has changed for UK-based chamber musicians in the 21st century.This interview study with professional chamber musicians at different stages in their careers explores the challenges that these musicians face and the wide-ranging set of skills that they have developed in response.The vocational nature of this work is emphasised, and many of the financial, entrepreneurial, and logistical challenges are outlined.Various barriers in relation to equality, diversity, and inclusion are identified, and implications for higher music education and for the future of the profession are explored.

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