A critical review of child perfectionism as it relates to music pedagogy

Stella Se Young Jeong,Charlene Ryan

doi:10.1177/03057356211042080

Stella Se Young Jeong, Charlene Ryan

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356211042080

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Abstract

Perfectionism as a construct has received increasing attention in recent years, in particular with regard to its potentially debilitating effects. In this critical literature review, the prevalence and development of perfectionism in school-age musicians are examined, with an eye to the implicit values of neoliberalism and settler colonialism represented in music curricula. Parent, teacher, and cultural influences are considered, as well as the role of perfectionism in children’s experience of music performance anxiety. Suggestions that perfectionism in this context may be a product of punitive methods in education and inequitable distribution of resources are discussed. Recommendations are made for pedagogical practices and research with children, as well as implications for parents, with specific attention focused on the need to deviate from the idea that perfect performances are the only measurements of success in music.

Highlights

Perfectionism as a construct has received increasing attention in recent years, in particular with regard to its potentially debilitating effects
Researchers have noted an increase in the prevalence of perfectionism among children and adolescents in recent years, and with that growth a larger proportion of children who tend more toward debilitative perfectionism than facilitative perfectionism (Curran & Hill, 2019; Flett et al, 2016; Sironic & Reeve, 2015)
A preliminary electronic search for common themes related to childhood perfectionism in music was conducted using Google Scholar and ProQuest databases with the search terms “child*” AND “perfectionism” AND “music.” The search was restricted to publications in the last 10 years, from May 2010 to May 2020 in both databases, and research results were sorted by relevance

Summary

Introduction

Perfectionism as a construct has received increasing attention in recent years, in particular with regard to its potentially debilitating effects In this critical literature review, the prevalence and development of perfectionism in school-age musicians are examined, with an eye to the implicit values of neoliberalism and settler colonialism represented in music curricula. Even in the early stages of childhood, to the stress of mounting requirements from various social influences (Curran & Hill, 2019; Flett et al, 2016; Greblo & Bratko, 2014; Lee & Hong, 2016) The result of this competitive system is that children are driven to develop perfectionistic tendencies, as they increasingly strive to fulfill increasingly demanding and unrealistic expectations (Curran & Hill, 2019; Hong et al, 2017)

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