Higher education music students’ perceptions of the benefits of participative music making

This study aimed to assess the perceived impact of music students’ active engagement in music making. Seventy-eight music students were asked to report on the impact that their participation in music making had on their lives. The data were analysed using Atlas.ti software. The findings fell within three categories: music making as a musical act, which allowed participants to deepen their musical knowledge and understanding; music making as a social act, where students felt that they were active contributors to a group outcome, developed a strong sense of belonging, gained popularity and made friends with ‘like-minded’ people, enhancing their social skills, and building up a strong sense of self-esteem and satisfaction; and music making influencing the self in terms of personal skill development facilitating the students’ personal identity and encouraging the development of self-achievement, self-confidence and intrinsic motivation.