Over the past decades, we have seen an increasing number of popular music programmes at higher music education institutions (HPME programmes). How do both students and teachers perceive such programmes and to what extent do they contribute to the career development of musicians? POPLIVE researcher Rick Everts published a research article on this topic, co-authored by Pauwke Berkers and Erik Hitters. In their study, they conclude that the main benefits that these programmes are perceived to offer concern the development of a set of necessary competences, the establishment of industry relationships and the acquisition of symbolic resources. In line with the ‘normative value’ perspective on professionalism, a norm of expertise is promoted, and in line with the ‘power struggle’ perspective, these symbolic resources help to foster a professional identity, both of which are believed to help students to stand out from musicians without forms of formal education entering the market.
The article can be found here.
