Today's seminar has been postponed due to the weather. A revised date will
be announced in due course.
CMPCP/IMR Performance Research Seminars are sponsored by the AHRC Research
Centre for Musical Performance as Creative Practice and the Institute of
Musical Research. For further information see www.cmpcp.ac.uk/imr2014.html.
The practice of creative performance
Karen Wise, Mirjam James and John Rink (University of Cambridge)
28 October 2013
17.00 - 18.30
Room G34, Senate House, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1
This presentation will interrogate the results from a recent study in which
advanced student performers kept practice diaries, completed questionnaires
and made video footage of themselves practising; they were then asked to
select 'creative episodes' from their footage to discuss in a research
interview. Select case examples reveal a range of strategies and approaches
to developing a sense of ownership in one's interpretation of a piece. We
identify processes of exploration, problem identification/solving,
evaluation and revision that serve to clarify expressive intentions and
build a conceptual representation of the 'essence' of a piece which unites
technical, expressive, musical, emotional and metacognitive elements. We
argue that approaches to documenting and conceptualising practice, which
have traditionally separated musical, expressive and technical aspects, have
not allowed creative processes to be fully revealed. Based on our
observational data we argue furthermore that creative elements are not
simply an 'add on' after technical mastery is achieved; rather, the
integration of multiple elements is in itself a creative process. We
therefore encourage a broader concept of 'practice' that goes beyond time
spent in physical engagement with one's instrument. The presentation is not
intended to provide practical advice, but the case studies do raise
questions for reflecting practice and guiding future research.
Karen Wise was Research Associate in the AHRC Centre for Music Performance
as Creative Practice, Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge. Her PhD in
Psychology (Keele) examined the musical skills, cognitive profiles and
self-perceptions of adults self-identifying as 'tone deaf'. She is also a
classical mezzo-soprano and singing teacher.
Mirjam James was Research Associate at the AHRC Research Centre for Musical
Performance as Creative Practice (CMPCP) at the University of Cambridge. She
holds a MA in Musicology, Psychology and Politics (TU Berlin) and a MSc in
Music Psychology (Keele University). Her PhD, on audio-visual perception,
was awarded by TU Berlin and her research interest includes group
communication, practice, performance and audiences.
John Rink is Director of CMPCP, Professor of Musical Performance Studies at
the University of Cambridge, and Fellow and Director of Studies in Music at
St John's College. He specialises in Chopin studies, analysis and
performance, and digital applications. Many of his books and other
publications focus on performance and related issues.
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