The emergence of learnables in music masterclasses

Reed, Darren and Reed, B. Szczepek (2014) The emergence of learnables in music masterclasses. Social Semiotics, 24 (4). pp. 446-467. ISSN 1035-0330

Abstract

In music masterclasses instruction is delivered in response to successive learners' performances, with masters having no recourse to lesson plans or other prepared materials. As a result, topics emerge discursively and spontaneously through interaction. In this paper we describe four ways in which masters develop matters for improvement (learnables). Masters may present learnables as being based on master expertise; on masters' direct displayed experience of the student's performance; on the elicited direct experience of the student-performer; or on the elicited direct experience of the audience. By using a conversation analytic approach, we detail the emergence of learnables in five recorded instances.