Abstract
Sound-producing movements in percussion performance require a high degree of fine motor control. However, there remains a relatively limited empirical understanding of how performance level abilities develop in percussion performance in general, and marimba performance specifically. To address this issue, nine percussionists performed individualised excerpts on marimba within three testing sessions spaced 29 days apart to assess early, intermediate, and late stages of motor learning. Motor learning was quantified via analyses of both the temporal control of mallet movements, and the spatial variability of upper-limb movements. The results showed that temporal control of mallet movements was greater in the intermediate compared to the early learning session, with no significant additional improvements revealed in the late learning session. In addition, spatial variability in the left and right elbows decreased within the intermediate compared to the early learning session. The results suggest that temporal control of mallet movements may be driven by reductions in spatial variability of elbow movements specifically. As a result, this study provides novel evidence for kinematic mechanisms underlying motor learning in percussion which can be applied towards enhancing musical training.
Highlights
Musicians have a unique challenge when learning the various movements underlying soundproduction
The present study examined motor learning in percussion where upper-limb movements executed within four-mallet marimba performances were assessed from both temporal and spatial perspectives at three time-points [i.e., session (S) 1, S2, and S3]
These results likely indicate that the relative contribution of the dominant rate of acceleration increases between S1 and S2
Summary
Musicians have a unique challenge when learning the various movements underlying soundproduction. Percussion performance is a unique musical context because many sound-producing movements share commonalities with non-musical motor tasks (i.e., supination/pronation and flexion/extension of the shoulders, elbows, and wrists). A percussion practice/performance context can be useful to further understand how complex musical movement patterns develop and change over time, while remaining relevant within the broader sensorimotor control literature. To this end, the present study examined four-mallet marimba performances at three time-points to study motor learning in music
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