Learner Agency in Musical Creative Process and Learning

Abstract

Rooted in a sociocultural, constructivist perspective and extensive research into children's creative process in music learning contexts, this chapter focuses on the central roles of personal and musical agency in music learners' creative process. The authors take the perspective that performing, listening, and creating (composing and improvising) are all creative processes and provide some insight into the nature of musical creative engagement. Some examples from actual music learning/teaching situations are shared and discussed, considering the role(s) of the learners' personal and musical agency in the process, what fostered or inhibited their learners' in the situation, and the nature of the learning that took place as a result. The chapter closes with a discussion of implications of these ideas for music education practice in a range of settings.