ABSTRACT
In specific areas of the music industry, rock music continues to permeate the commercial and popular music scene. Rock music – defined broadly in this chapter to include anything from punk, indie, death metal, pop, country, and alternative to classic rock – has been commonplace in the music industry since the early 1940s, when bands gained popularity through toured performances with other rock artists. Although the popularity of hard rock, classic rock, and alternative rock has decreased in recent decades, new forms of rock music are prevalent in popular culture, including pop and indie. The author of this chapter explores the definitions of musicianship in a pop rock band setting for higher education, specifically a learner-led pop rock band, highlighting the various roles students choose as they develop their individual and group identity, make collaborative musical decisions, and lead rehearsals embedded within a constructivist epistemology of music learning. The author suggests the importance of establishing baseline musicianship expectations for all members of the band, allowing space to foster individual musicianship, co-creating individual and group (band) goals (musical and non-musical), and integrating group discussions and reflections in the music learning process. Finally, understanding the role of the instructor, specifically their responsibilities associated within this medium, is explored in conclusion.
