Defining a musician stereotype?

Context: The presence of discipline-related stereotypes impacts engagement in, and satisfaction with, working within certain disciplines. Assessing science stereotypes using the Draw-A-Scientist-Test (DAST) indicates implicit biases: the majority of scientists are drawn as older, white males wearing lab coats. The present study asks, what is the prevailing musician stereotype? Aims : As part of a larger project examining identities, the current study applied Chambers’ (1983) DAST to musicians to identify musician stereotypes. Methods : A sample of 77 participants (17–73 years old) completed an online questionnaire which included a drawing task and an open-ended prompt regarding the origin of their ideas for the drawing. The presence of stereotypical markers was identified via an amended DAST checklist. Three raters independently coded each drawing and explanation, with any differences resolved by taking the majority code. Results : A qualitative thematic analysis of the drawing origins indicated key influences including media, notable persons, and personal experience. The pervasive stereotypical features of a “musician” and additional patterns within the data will be discussed. Implications: The present study extends research into musical identity to more fully explore the role of stereotypes. Additionally, findings have practical implications for how educators and practitioners can create environments that promote discipline engagement.

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SEMPRE 2025 Spring Conference: Intersections between music psychology and education

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