Understanding musical leadership in light of performative and pedagogical practices from a hermeneutic practice ecological perspective

Abstract

This article-based thesis consists of an extended abstract and three articles. The thesis is divided into two parts with a total of four texts and focuses on developing knowledge of musical leadership. In Part I, a synthesis is presented in the form of an extended abstract, and in Part II, the three articles constituting the substance of the synthesis are presented. The author recommends reading the articles first as they constitute the background of the synthesis. The following is an overview of the two parts of the thesis. Part I - The extended abstract is a synthesis of CS1-3 that consists of an introduction, previous research, theoretical framework, methodology and method, findings, discussion, and conclusions. In this synthesis, a hermeneutic practice ecological perspective serves as a theoretical lens for the comprehensive investigation of CS1–3. The conclusions suggests the Perpetual Practice Dialogue Complex as an approach to combine performative, pedagogical and research practices in the means to reveal, develop and articulate understandings in and on musical leadership. Part II - The articles for each component study (CS) are attached as they were published or available in manuscript form at the time of this thesis submission. Through CS1-3, understandings of musical leadership were developed at the intersection of qualitative research and arts-based research (ABR). Nine concepts that served as aspects of musical leadership relevant to conducting were revealed by investigating a record producer’s practice (CS1). Through ABR, six of the nine concepts were transformed into sonic extractions (CS2), and live looping through loop station conducting (LSC) as an ensemble conducting approach offered several perspectives relevant to ensemble conducting in a pedagogical context (CS3). Keywords: musical leadership, record producer, hermeneutic practice ecological perspective, arts-based research, music teacher education