‘What’s it like?’: An autoethnography of three words that challenged and inspire a pedagogue in the concert hall

Abstract

This autoethnography examines my practice of curating didactic orchestral concerts for children with regional community orchestras over 16 years. Bourdieusian concepts are used as a theoretical framework to critique the nuances of my story. The commentaries provided in reflective narratives examine the initial well-meaning yet misguided motivations of a graduate teacher replicating high arts doxa through socialisation; efforts to shape audience behaviours and build cultural capital with a largely non-concert-going public; and later practice informed and reformed through research. Significant reflexive turns are shared with the view to provoke conversation, encourage fellow practitioners and smooth pitfalls for others working in these spaces. With these lessons and learnings in tow, the article critiques my current praxis, values and work in curating concerts for children, and offers guidance when considering the potential curated orchestral concerts as meaningful arts experiences for children. The article ultimately seeks to encourage practitioners and researchers both within this field and beyond to bravely have a go at blue sky projects mindfully, critically and reflexively.