Intersections of spirituality, relationships, and music education: Applications of lessons from the Pixar film, Soul

Abstract

How can music educators explore the intersections of spirituality, relationships, and music education? The purpose of this paper is to examine how the Pixar film, Soul, models the transformation that can occur when a music teacher embraces spirituality and the preciousness of everyday life both in and out of the classroom through experiences in spatiality, corporeality, temporality, and relationality. To explore the film’s implications, I use a conceptual model of spirituality from van der Merwe and Habron and a theoretical framework from Boyce-Tillman which explores ideas of eudaimonia, spirituality, and music education. The film’s protagonist, Joe Gardner, who evolves past his own ego and comes to share the joy of everyday experiences with a fearful student, may serve as a model for music educators who are seeking to find meaning in the daily life of music teaching and learning. Because discussing films seems so natural to our social experience, pondering how characters evolve and come to understand their purpose may help music teachers develop a deeper understanding of their own identity and interconnected relationships with students.