Hybrid Musicianship - Teaching Gestural Interaction with Traditional and Digital Instruments

This article documents a class that teaches gestural interaction and juxtaposes traditional instrumental skills with digital musical instrument concepts. In order to show the principles and reflections that informed the choices made in developing this syllabus, fundamental elements of an instrument-body relationship and the perceptual import of sensory-motor integration are investigated. The methods used to let participants learn in practical experimental settings are discussed, showing a way to conceptualise and experience the entire workflow from instrumental sound to electronic transformations by blending gestural interaction with digital musical instrument techniques and traditional instrumental playing skills. The technical interfaces and software that were deployed are explained, focusing of the interactive potential offered by each solution. In an attempt to summarise and evaluate the impact of this course, a number of insights relating to this specific pedagogical situation are put forward. Finally, concrete examples of interactive situations that were developed by the participants are shown in order to demonstrate the validity of this approach.