Possible Selves in Balance: Exploring Hopes and Fears of Indian Musicians

By providing an opportunity for self-expression, music facilitates the reproduction and transformation of identities established in an individual. Having an understanding of the possible musical self residing within the existing self-concept can help us make sense of the time and energy required to become a musician. The present study attempts to understand the qualities or characteristics musicians use to describe their possible musical selves. The sample comprised of 50 participants from the National Capital Region (NCR), India (age range 18–29 years or emerging adults), trained primarily in Indian Classical Music. The data was collected using an open-ended questionnaire (adapted from Oyserman, et al., 2002) and analyzed using thematic analysis which is discussed under three themes—the “hoped for selves,” the “expected selves,” and the “feared selves.” Attention was also given to the balance among different elements of possible selves to produce a summary characterization of the possible musical self. The findings from the study have implications for institutions and teachers involved in imparting music education. They may carefully examine the possibilities to review and reconsider present instructions, promoting a realistic vision of future musical experiences to help students envision musical futures by exploring possibilities.