The effects of a Cuban musical exchange trip on the musical journeys of students from a Sydney high school

Abstract

This ethnographic study provides a qualitative account and analysis of the ways in which students’ musical journeys are enhanced through cross cultural educational travel. Narrative reporting by Sydney High School students and other participants in a musical exchange trip to Cuba in December, 2006, highlights the learning experiences and types of learning which contribute to making such trips a context for deep learning. The rich data collected and analysed reveals observable personal and musical transformation as a result of the experiences and learning undertaken on the trip. A model for deep learning related to cross cultural exchange is developed, learning which emerges from the interaction between learning experience and types of learning that take place on such trips, and which emphasises experiential, reflective and serendipitous learning. The study includes recommendations deriving from cross cultural engagement and music exchange that relate to the design of effective and motivating learning experiences for students in more common music education contexts.