‘Getting It Right’ as an Affect of Self-Improvement

Abstract

This chapter examines rehearsal practices in the youth music groups in this study to analyse the practices that were required to attain ideals of aesthetic beauty. It introduces the idea of ‘getting it right’ as an important component of classical music education as observed in this study. Getting it right necessitated ongoing correction of the young musicians from teachers and conductors, and this formed the main practice of rehearsals. This rightness held a moral connotation for some of the young people, and the work of practising that was required to attain ‘rightness’ also held different meanings for young people in different class positions. However, within the powerful relationship of trust that many of the young people formed with their teachers, getting it right necessitated correction from teachers that for a few pupils turned into bullying or emotional abuse.