Developing Group Work Life Skills Within The Music Industries

Working in small groups helps to prepare students for life in the music ‘industries’ where, for example, the activities of rehearsing, performing, recording, sound engineering, and production depend on groups of individuals.

An important part of the process that enables us to develop as musicians involves becoming aware of our personal attributes and interpersonal skills as they are displayed in working with others. This presentation explores ideas and techniques that can enable students to become more self-aware, and aware of other musicians also, while working in a group.

Based upon a nine-year action research study of group work activities (undergraduate popular music students rehearsing in their bands) at The University of Huddersfield, it reports how a peer learning and assessment system supported the development and improvement of individuals’ personal attributes.

Individuals agreed to allow their bands to identify particular personal attributes for each group member that, they felt, could be improved. The following areas emerged as a focus: self-knowledge; feedback; confidence; honesty; self-efficacy; and tutor practice.

The submission, it is hoped, will be of interest to conference members in its concern for the ‘musician’ and what constitutes ‘development’ within the fields of music psychology and music education.