A PRISMA review of collective flow experiences in music contexts

Abstract

This PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) review examines collective flow experiences in music contexts. Articles (N = 598) were searched using a publicly available scholarly literature search engine and critically evaluated for inclusion. The result of 20 articles matching the search criteria reveals a scarcity of theoretical and empirical studies that examine collective flow in music contexts. Our meta-analysis indicated that collective flow is an emergent phenomenon and the available studies reiterate the importance of (1) subsuming of individual goals to the collective level, such that “I” becomes “we”; (2) coalescing of individual skills to meet collective challenges; and (3) coordination of the contributions of individuals to a coherent collective performance. The work of R. Keith Sawyer, in particular, was the most salient and frequently cited among scholars studying collective flow in music contexts. We hope that this review provides the groundwork for further research, and for scholars to further examine the prerequisites, characteristics, and benefits of collective flow as experienced by musicians through collaborative musical activities.