Engagement and collective flow experiences in three Brazilian music ensembles

The purpose of this research was to investigate engagement and collective flow indicators in the self-reported experiences of music ensemble participants. Based on the second phase of a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design, this article presents the results of the qualitative phase of the research. The results were obtained through online focus group interviews with 12 participants from three Brazilian musical ensembles. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and a categorical content analysis procedure. The qualitative results were organized into two sets of categories: (1) Six categories that may enhance the collective flow experience, and (2) seven categories that assist in describing the subjective experiences of collective flow. Examples were provided for each category, and it was also possible to establish relationships with the dimensions of engagement. In general, the results of this study allowed for a deeper understanding of engagement and collective flow indicators among music ensemble participants.