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Finding Flow in Artistic Skill and Technique: Narratives of Young Artists-in-Training in Singapore

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Contextualized Practices in Arts Education

Part of the book series: Education Innovation Series ((EDIN))

Abstract

Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with fourteen selected students who are enrolled in a specialized arts secondary school (School of the Arts) in Singapore to discern whether they experience flow as they each engage in their respective art forms (visual arts, dance, music, and theater). Qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that elements of flow were emergent among the fourteen teacher-nominated adolescents who are talented both in the arts and their academics. The study also explores the environmental supports that facilitate expressions of artistic inclinations and identities within the Singapore context. Implications for arts-educators and artist-practitioners are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Early Childhood and Special Needs Education Academic Group at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Rhoda Myra Garces-Bacsal

Authors
  1. Rhoda Myra Garces-Bacsal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rhoda Myra Garces-Bacsal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Visual and Performing Arts Academic Group at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

    Chee-Hoo Lum

Appendix A. Semi-structured Interview Guide

Appendix A. Semi-structured Interview Guide

  1. 1.

    Could you tell me about your (music, art, dance, theater)? How long have you been doing your (music, art, dance, theater)?

  2. 2.

    Could you describe to me what the experience is like when you are engaging in your [art form] (dance, music, etc)? How do you feel whenever you engage in your art form?

  3. 3.

    How often do you practice? How often do you do your drawings (for visual arts)/rehearse for theater/dance/music? How about during vacations?

  4. 4.

    What do you think are some of the things that contributed to your development in your art area? How about some of the things which you feel do not help you in developing your art form?

  5. 5.

    Tell me about your first year in SOTA. What was it like?

  6. 6.

    How different or similar is the school from your previous schools?

  7. 7.

    Describe to me what your teachers here are like. How about the kind of training and education that you receive in your art form here, what is it like?

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Garces-Bacsal, R.M. (2013). Finding Flow in Artistic Skill and Technique: Narratives of Young Artists-in-Training in Singapore. In: Lum, CH. (eds) Contextualized Practices in Arts Education. Education Innovation Series. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-55-9_18

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