Proposal of the simple three-phase musicians´ career model (Preparation/education, active playing and fading/extention) reflecting subjective aspects of professional musician´s life

Abstract

Careers of professional musicians are unique and their development cannot be fully generalized, as shown by interviews with instrument players and singers of classical music and musical in Slovakia. Their careers do not include all standard career stages; only three of them were identified in all respondents: preparation (tied with music education), active playing (associated with growth, peaks, crises, decrease) and career fading/extinction. The time limits of these stages cannot be set, as they considerably differ. Majority of musicians claim to overcome a professional crisis. A common feature of all respondents' careers is music teaching job at a certain point in their own careers.