Assessing Temporal Constraints on Sequence Ordering in Music Improvisation
Open Access
- Author:
- Merseal, Hannah
- Graduate Program:
- Psychology (MS)
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- May 28, 2021
- Committee Members:
- Roger Beaty, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Daniel J Weiss, Committee Member
Kristin Buss (She/Her), Program Head/Chair
Bryan E Nichols, Committee Member - Keywords:
- improvisation
music cognition
motor planning
planning constraints
cognitive load
tempo
easy first
language production
motor production - Abstract:
- Music improvisation is among the most complex creative behaviors, involving the simultaneous execution and integration of multiple cognitive processes in real-time in order to create new music in live performance. Yet, little is known about how jazz musicians reference and recombine a vast repository of learned musical sequences while improvising. A recent study by our research group found evidence that expert improvisers accomplish this difficult task using phrase-level incremental planning, specifically via a sequencing bias observed in language production termed easy first—in which more accessible, less complex sequences occur in the beginning of a phrase, progressing to more complex sequences later in the same phrase. While this study provided clear and consistent evidence of the easy first sequencing bias in improvisation, it is less clear whether this bias emerges under specific conditions. One such condition may be increased cognitive load, such as increases in the temporal demands present during sequence production. The present study uses two operationalizations of cognitive load—note density and tempo—to examine whether these factors influence the use of easy first. We found a consistent effect of easy first across all tempi and note densities, indicating that incremental planning is likely used regardless of internal or external increases on cognitive load during performance. The effect of easy first was weaker at fast tempi than slow tempi, which we interpret as musicians having more time to plan at slower playing speeds. Additionally, a negative relationship between complexity and note density was found, such that as note density increases, overall phrase complexity decreases. As performers choose to play notes faster in performance, they become less able to play highly complex musical phrases. Overall, the present study provides compelling evidence for effects of internal and external sources of cognitive demand on musical phrase planning during improvisation.