ABSTRACT

Coupling the narratives of twenty-two Irish traditional musicians alongside intensive field research, Becoming an Irish Traditional Musician explores the rich and diverse ways traditional musicians hone their craft. It details the educational benefits and challenges associated with each learning practice, outlining the motivations and obstacles learners experience during musical development. By exploring learning from the point of view of the learners themselves, the author provides new insights into modern Irish traditional music culture and how people begin to embody a musical tradition. This book charts the journey of becoming an Irish traditional musician and explores how musicality is learned, developed, and embodied.

chapter |16 pages

Introduction

Exploring the journey of musical enculturation

chapter 1|28 pages

Passing it on

Connecting with a community of practitioners

chapter 3|32 pages

Organized informality

Teaching and institutionalizing Irish traditional music

chapter |17 pages

Conclusion

The lifelong process of becoming an Irish traditional musician