[Truncated abstract] This study extends understanding of the careers of classical instrumental musicians within the cultural industries, and ascertains the extent to which professional practice is reflected within current classical performance-based music education and training. Little is known about the careers of classically trained instrumental musicians in terms of the activities in which they engage and the skills and attributes used to sustain their professional practice, and there is also widespread lack of understanding about the music industry and the wider cultural industries. The extent to which education and training reflects the careers of music performance graduates has gained heightened exposure at the same time as higher education institutions have become increasingly accountable for the employability of graduates, and yet much of the available literature has only tangential relevance and there remains a shortage of literature relating to the complex area of creative practice. The research approach for the study bridges both the interpretive and normative paradigms. Using survey and interview methods, the study employs three distinct but interrelated data collections to investigate sustainable professional practice through analysis of musicians’ careers, performance-based education and training, and the cultural industries. The study identifies the longitudinal characteristics of musicians’ professional practice and presents in a conditional matrix the intrinsic and extrinsic influences that impact upon it. The study proposes a practitioner-focussed Arts Cultural Practice (ACP) framework that consists of four practitioner-focussed, non-hierarchical groups which were determined through analysis of the major foci characterising roles within the cultural industries. As such, the ACP framework represents a new paradigm of sustainable practice that circumvents existing barriers; submitting a non-hierarchical view of cultural practice that clearly indicates the potential for an exciting diversity of holistic practice often not considered by practitioners. The ACP curricular model posits the collaborative delivery of generic skills across artforms. This study substantiates the generic skills used by artists throughout the cultural industries, and confirms the rationale for education and training which considers the sustainability of music graduates’ careers as arts cultural practitioners. Thus, individual strengths and talents should be developed according to the intrinsic and extrinsic influences which drive the passion for arts practice.

Orientador: Adriana Giarola Kayama / Banca: Abel Rocha / Banca: Luiz Ricardo Ballestero / Banca: Wladimir Farto Contesini de Mattos / Resumo: Esta tese de doutorado investiga como os egressos do curso de bacharelado em música-habilidade canto da UNESP avaliam sua educação universitária e o impacto que eles acreditam que essa sobre suas trajetórias profissionais. Esta tese encontra respaldo no crescente interesse de IES nos estudos de egressos como método de avaliação institucional. Através de uma abordagem metodológica mista (quantitativa e qualitativa) foi possível traçar as trajetórias musicais e profissionais dos egressos do curso de canto desde o período pré-universitário, passando pelos anos de graduação e escolhas profissionais após a conclusão do curso. A análise dos dados coletados utilizou-se da teoria de campos do sociólogo francês Pierre Bourdieu, que serviu tanto para delimitar um "campo vocal" dentro das atividades profissionais existentes na grande área de música, quanto para explicar como a universidade, pertencente ao campo acadêmico, ignora as especificidades inerentes à área da música, pertencente ao campo da produção artística. O enfraquecimento dos conservatórios e a derrocada do ensino musical na educação básica brasileira transformaram o curso superior em música em uma versão reestruturada do modelo conservatorial. Os resultados nos mostram que a maior parte dos egressos investigados buscavam na UNESP uma formação musical institucional estruturada. Embora o curso de canto tenha sofrido críticas específicas relativas ao seu funcionamento, a maior parte dos egressos consegue se manter economicam... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This doctoral dissertation investigates how alumni from the Bachelor of Music - voice - degree from UNESP evaluate the impact tertiary education had on their professional careers. This thesis is justified by the growing interest that HEIs attribute to alumni studies as a method of institutional evaluation. Using mixed methods of investigation (quantitative and qualitative) it was possible to trace alumni's professional and musical paths beginning from their pre-university years, continuing through their university education and professional choices after graduation. Pierre Bourdieu's theory of social fields was used to interpret collected data and was used in delimiting a "vocal field" within the professional activities within music as a general area, as well as an explanation of how the university, which belongs to the academic field, ignores the inherent specificities of music, which belongs to the field of artistic production. The weakening of conservatories and the collapse of music education in Brazilian primary education have restructured tertiary music education into functioning as version of the conservatory model. The results show that most of the alumni look for an institutionally structured music degree that will tend to basic music training and understanding. Although the voice program was criticized because of operational flaws most of its alumni have been active in the music field, even though not all were able to position themselves professionally as they had e... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

This dissertation investigates the working experiences of musicians who play original music as a form of employment. The study describes the venues and locations of music performance, including music clubs, concerts and festivals. This is done from the point of view of a concert-goer who is aware of the labour processes occurring at these shows, as well as the infrastructure and support necessary to make such events occur. The music investigated is original popular music which does not afford the artists any other forms of sponsorship apart from the earnings received from performances. The musicians interviewed are thus people who play music as their sole form of income, or aspire to be this position. The experiences of these musicians, as gleaned from loosely structured interviews utilising open ended questions, allow the study to make some generalisations about what it takes to play music as a fulltime form of employment. This is the focus of the study, particularly the fact that music is not only a skill and talent to be developed, but also that music is a unique job which has it's own stresses, strains and rewards. Problems experienced by the musicians, as described by the musicians themselves, cast a clearer understanding of the way in which this form of work is run. The actual mechanics of music performance, such as the prohibitive costs of equipment, and the dealings with club-owners, are discussed. Technology is evaluated in terms of its impact on music performance as a career. Some record companies were also approached in an attempt to understand the constraints and problems faced by these commercial enterprises. The perceptions that these companies have of local original music artists is contrasted with the perceptions that the artists seemed to have of the companies. This makes for interesting comparative material, and allows the study to identify some obstacles between artist and industry. The study concludes with a description of the local music industry and a discussion of some of the reasons why it has developed in this way, as well as a look at some suggestions for change. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1994.