A1 Journal article (refereed)
Expert Pianists’ Practice Perspectives : A Production and Listening Study (2021)


Loimusalo, N. J., & Huovinen, E. (2021). Expert Pianists’ Practice Perspectives : A Production and Listening Study. Musicae Scientiae, 25(4), 480-508. https://doi.org/10.1177/1029864920938838


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsLoimusalo, Nina Johanna; Huovinen, Erkki

Journal or seriesMusicae Scientiae

ISSN1029-8649

eISSN2045-4147

Publication year2021

Publication date12/07/2021

Volume25

Issue number4

Pages range480-508

PublisherSAGE Publications

Publication countryUnited States

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1177/1029864920938838

Publication open accessNot open

Publication channel open access


Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how professional pianists practice music for a concert, and whether their individual cognitive orientations in such practice processes can be identified accurately from the resulting performances. In Study I, four pianists, previously found to be skilled music memorizers, practiced and performed a short piece by André Jolivet over the course of two weeks, during which their practice strategies were studied using semi-structured interviews, and analyses of practice diaries, practice activities, and eye-movement data. The results indicate that the pianists used similar basic strategies but had different cognitive orientations, here called “practice perspectives,” consistent with each individual, in that they focused on different kinds of information while practicing. These practice perspectives may be related to skills and habits in using imagery and music analysis, as well as to professional and educational background. In Study II, 34 piano teachers listened to recordings of the concert performances and evaluated them against 12 statements representing the four practice perspectives identified in Study I. The results did not support the prediction that practice perspectives would be correctly detected by listeners. Nonetheless, practice perspectives can be used to highlight potentially vast differences between the ways in which individual professional classical musicians conceptualize music and make it meaningful to themselves and others. They could be used in the context of music education to increase musicians’ knowledge of different practice strategies and the ability to develop their own preferred working methods.


Keywordsmusicmusicianspianiststrainingexercise methodsprofessional developmentindividualitycognitioncognitive processescognitive musicologymusic education

Free keywordsexpertise; individual differences; music practice; piano performance; musical interpretation


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Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2021

JUFO rating2


Last updated on 2024-26-03 at 20:56