Acquiring skills in music technology

Abstract

This chapter explores how individuals acquire music technology skills in various settings. We consider this acquisition with reference to the psychological theories of behaviourism, constructivism and metacognition/metalearning. We also discuss what it means to learn, be creative and pursue a musical career within a fast-moving, technology-driven world. What do professional musicians, sound engineers and educators regard as key skills and competencies in music technology, how have priorities changed over time and what attributes are considered as essential for the future? We illustrate our key findings using a wide range of examples drawn from varied cultures, musical and educational settings. Chapter summary• Music technology skills are evolving to reflect technological, economic and cultural change.• Defining specific skills in music technology is challenging, although some categories of skill endure longer than others.• Skill acquisition in music technology is most effective within contextual and holistic learning environments.• Skills in 'perimusical' technologies have attained great importance for musicians of all kinds in recent years.• Essential skills for future music technologists may often not be 'technological' in the traditional sense.

Experiencing Music Technology - Experiencing Music Technology (Fourth Edition) by David Brian Williams and Peter Richard Webster, Oxford University Press, 2022. Pbk, 576pp. £82.45. ISBN: 978-0190635794.

“…At the end of each Viewport, the authors include detailed project ideas, bridging the gap between theory and practice. This book links nicely to the various skills discussed in Purves and Himonides’s (2021) chapter on how technology can generally be used in the curriculum to support the acquisition of music skills. They include practical guidance for educators to effectively implement the ideas into their teaching.…”