The masterless studio: an autonomous education community

Abstract

In recent times, it has become difficult for even the best conservatorium graduates to achieve the traditional goals of concert performance or secure orchestral positions and this has profound effects on the work practices of musicians. There are important implications for teaching in a conservatorium, in terms of providing a learning experience that prepares for the changing circumstances graduates can expect to encounter. The development of abilities to be self-monitoring and self-directing, multi- skilled and adaptable should be included along with the traditional goals of a conservatorium education. This paper focuses on one conservatorium of music that has begun to accommodate alternatives to the prevailing one-to-one studio practice, the central learning experience of most programs. The paper describes an alternative learning design process within that conservatorium. It is a pedagogical design that relies on the recording process to enable separation of performance from critique. Interest is in how critical reflection on the process and product of creative work is enhanced through self- and peer-assessment, and the development of these skills as an explicit goal of the design.