Bandas escolares e sentido de vida: narrativas e significações de ex-integrantes à luz da teoria de Viktor Frankl

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the life narratives of ten former members of school bands using Viktor Frankl's Theory of Meaning in Life. This analysis is part of a master's research (Silva, 2020). The testimonies of these former members were collected through narrative interviews conducted in two stages. The analysis was constructed by intersecting the reports with Frankl’s theoretical concepts and studies from the field of Music Education. The results indicate that the performances in which the bands participate are significant events that provide motivation. Furthermore, the bands may serve as opportunities for exercising self-transcendence. In other words, dedication to a specific project or mission (creative values), through engagement with music (experiential values), as well as the attitude adopted by its members – current formers – toward the structural and pedagogical limits of their practices. The narratives suggest that, following their exit from the band, former members may find new ways to find meaning and relate to music. Finally, the research shows that occasional participation can be understood as a moment of reconnecting with meaningful experiences in the bands and with music.