The Experience of Authenticity Across Three Music Disciplines; Music Therapy, Music Teaching and Music Performance

Across music disciplines, authenticity has been referred to in various ways. Within therapy and teaching, only sparsely it discussed focusing on the intrapersonal aspects of authenticity. This study seeks explore understand as experienced expressed by three professionals practicing within areas therapy, performance, goal being primarily deepen, enrich, experience possibly benefit their clients, students, audiences. Three holding professional backgrounds were selected based assumed ability reflect this rather philosophical topic. Preparatory materials sent out participants prior conducting two semi-structured interviews – 1 solo interview group interview. The transcribed analyzed through a thematic coding analysis revealing four meta themes: 1) paradoxes language action, 2) imbalance inauthenticity, 3) roles, relationships, masks, 4) field Findings with chosen theory synthesizing associated several interconnected elements: relationship (with self others), role (self-chosen assigned), context (role fits context), professionalism (having skills needed, letting go control), personality (transparent persona).