Practice-Based Research and New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Practitioner-researchers in new musical instrument/ interface design often set themselves multiple challenges: They seek to design and implement new technologies, create and perform new works, examine and evaluate what they have done and, finally, articulate what has been learned in the process.

To do this effectively requires careful consideration of the links between creative work and research. Failing to do so can lead to technical research that lacks relevance to creative practice or, conversely, creative work where the broader contribution is unclear.

The Practice-Based Research workshop conducted at the New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) conference (30 June–4 July 2014, Goldsmiths, University of London) focused on the relationships between creative practice and research—and blends of the two— with particular emphasis on new musical interface/ instrument design.