Composers’ Reflections on the Relevance of Artistic Doctoral Education in Finland

Abstract

As Artistic Research (AR) is gaining momentum in academia and the movement has begun to affect the industry, in this qualitative study we ask how contemporary art music composers in Finland think of artistic doctoral education in the field of composition. Ten bigenerational composers participated in open interviews in which they were asked to reflect on AR both as a discipline and as a pathway in doctoral studies in relation to composers’ professional practice. A qualitative thematic analysis based on the “dialogic engagement practice” approach revealed certain benefits and challenges related to a) doctoral studies in AR, and b) the dynamics between composition and AR. In particular, participants noted a division between doctoral candidates enrolled in AR doctoral programs for self-focused artistic introspection (single-loop-learning) and those who connect their studies with activist and societal issues that go beyond personal inquiry (double-loop learning). Furthermore, issues of whether AR in composing could be considered research, or not, were also articulated. Based on these key aspects, the authors offer a conceptual learning triangulation between research, education, and self-development that could inform AR doctoral education curricula.