Co-Tuning Virtual-Acoustic Performance Ecosystems: observations on the development of skill and style in the study of musician-instrument relationships

Abstract

In this paper we report preliminary observations from an ongoing study into how musicians explore and adapt to the parameter space of a virtual-acoustic string bridge plate instrument. These observations inform (and are informed by) a wider approach to understanding the development of skill and style in interactions between musicians and musical instruments. We discuss a performance-driven ecosystemic approach to studying musical relationships, drawing on arguments from the literature which emphasise the need to go beyond simplistic notions of control and usability when assessing exploratory and performatory musical interactions. Lastly, we focus on processes of perceptual learning and co-tuning between musician and instrument, and how these activities may contribute to the emergence of personal style as a hallmark of skilful music-making. ABSTRACT This paper provides a sample of a L A TEX document for the NIME conference series. It conforms, somewhat loosely, to the formatting guidelines for ACM SIG Proceedings. It is an alternate style which produces a tighter-looking paper and was designed in response to concerns expressed, by authors, over page-budgets. It complements the document Author’s (Alternate) Guide to Preparing ACM SIG Proceedings Us- ing L A TEX 2 ✏ and BibTEX . This source file has been written with the intention of being compiled under L A TEX2 ✏ and BibTeX.Tomake best use of this sample document, run it through L A TEX and BibTeX, and compare this source code with your compiled PDF file. A compiled PDF version is available to help you with the ‘look and feel.’ The paper submit- ted to the NIME conference must be stored in an A4-sized PDF file, so North Americans should take care not to inadvertently generate letter paper-sized PDF files. This paper template should prevent that from happening if the pdflatex program is used to generate the PDF file. The abstract should preferably be between 100 and 200 words.