scholarly journals “Imagined Outcomes”: Contrasting Patterns of Opportunity, Capability, and Innovation in British Musical Instrument Manufacturing, 1930–1985

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICHARD K. BLUNDEL ◽  
DAVID J. SMITH
Keyword(s):  
Musical Instrument ◽  
International Markets ◽  
Dynamic Interaction ◽  
French Horn ◽  
Capability Development ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Brass Instruments ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunities ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Craft Skills

By the mid-twentieth century in the United Kingdom, musical instrument manufacturing had become an increasingly mechanized activity. Craft skills had been displaced in many areas, yet remained a vital source of competitive advantage in local and international markets and were particularly valued by professional musicians. This article examines the contrasting experiences of two British musical instrument manufacturers, tracing the unfolding relationship between their pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities and capability development. Boosey & Hawkes, a large, well-established manufacturing and publishing company, was an early pioneer, while Paxman Bros., a small musical retailer, transformed itself into one of the world’s most respected specialist manufacturers. The narrative probes the factors that shaped decision making in these companies as they developed a series of design innovations for one of the more complex brass instruments: the French horn. It draws on relevant theoretical insights to examine how a dynamic interaction between opportunity and capability, coupled with unanticipated contingencies, contributed to divergent outcomes for each company.

scholarly journals Pedagogical Potential of Mental Practice in Teaching Brass Instruments at University

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Muceniece ◽  
◽  
Dace Medne ◽  
Ērika Gintere ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Musical Instrument ◽  
Mental Practice ◽  
Musical Education ◽  
Brass Instruments ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Teaching Music ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Overall Effectiveness

At any level of musical education, it is very important to improve one’s musicianship skills, which can only be achieved through consistent training and playing their musical instrument. Physical training is a very important part of the learning process; however, its combination with mental practice has been proved to be much more effective. Although such an approach is important at all levels of musical education, the paper addresses it in the context of higher education. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the pedagogical potential of mental practice in the process of teaching music in higher education. The research was implemented in two stages. First, a survey was conducted to gather information about the respondents’ habits when learning musical pieces. At this stage, the study involved 68 brass students from different universities around the world between the ages of 19 and 25. The second stage of the research comprised the development of the program of mental practice (PMP) with structured observation as a method and 7 participants from Latvian and Norwegian higher music education institutions. The obtained results allow to conclude that the inclusion of mental practice in the practicing routine significantly improves the overall level of concentration and stability both in the process of training and during performances. Mental practice also provides an opportunity to increase the duration of training as well as enhances the overall effectiveness of practicing and concentration during performances.

scholarly journals Articulatory motor planning and timbral idiosyncrasies as underlying mechanisms of instrument-specific absolute pitch in expert musicians

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247136
Author(s):  
Niels Chr. Hansen ◽  
Lindsey Reymore
Keyword(s):  
Motor Planning ◽  
Mechanistic Explanation ◽  
Absolute Pitch ◽  
Musical Instrument ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Instrument Type ◽  
External Reference ◽  
Intense Training ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

The study of musical expertise illustrates how intense training in a specialized domain may instigate development of implicit skills. While absolute pitch, or the ability to identify musical pitches without external reference, is rare even in professional musicians and is understood to have a genetic component, anecdotal evidence and pilot data suggest that some musicians without traditional absolute pitch are nonetheless better able to name notes played on their musical instrument of expertise than notes played on less familiar instruments. We have previously termed this particular gain in absolute pitch identification ability “instrument-specific absolute pitch” (ISAP) and have proposed that this skill is related to learned instrument type-specific timbral and intonational idiosyncrasies and articulatory motor planning activated by the timbre of the instrument. In this Registered Report Protocol, we describe two experiments designed to investigate ISAP in professional oboists. Experiment 1 tests for ISAP ability by comparing oboists’ pitch identification accuracies for notes played on the oboe and on the piano. A subset of the participants from Experiment 1 who demonstrate this ability will be recruited for Experiment 2; the purpose of Experiment 2 is to test hypotheses concerning a mechanistic explanation for ISAP. The outcome of these experiments may provide support for the theory that some individuals have ISAP and that the underlying mechanisms of this ability may rely on the perception of subtle timbral/intonational idiosyncrasies and on articulatory motor planning developed through intensive long-term training. In general, this work will contribute to the understanding of specialized expertise, specifically of implicit abilities and biases that are not addressed directly in training, but that may yet develop through practice of a related skill set.

Bruxism Related to Violin Playing

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-15
Author(s):  
F J Rodríguez Lozano ◽  
M R Sáez Yuguero ◽  
A Bermejo Fenoll
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Musical Instrument ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Health Education Program ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Clinical Phenomenon ◽  
Violin Playing ◽  
Random Control

The violinist's profession involves situations of stress and tension, and bruxism is a clinical phenomenon that is occurring among these musicians with increasing frequency. Materials and Methods: We studied a group of 41 violinists from the region of Murcia in Spain, who completed clinical questionnaires designed to detect bruxism. The results were compared with those from a random control group who did not play any musical instrument. The SPSS 13.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. Evaluations were done with Pearson's chi-squared test. Results: In the study group, 73% were diagnosed with bruxism, whereas in the control group, only 34% suffered from this complaint. We found a statistically significant relationship (p<0.05) between violinists and the parafunctional bruxism habit. Conclusions: It could be said that violin playing can be a factor that predisposes or triggers the appearance of signs and symptoms of bruxism. It is necessary to establish a health education program and preventive measures for professional musicians in order to avoid the development or worsening of bruxism and related problems.

The Demand for Pharmaceuticals in Major International Markets

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart O. Schweitzer ◽  
Z. John Lu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Pharmaceutical Expenditure ◽  
National Income ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Markets ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Difference

This chapter provides a comparative analysis of pharmaceutical expenditure levels across major global markets. It identifies several factors for the difference across countries, including national income, spending on overall healthcare, price for substitutable healthcare products and services, age distribution, patient and physician tastes and preferences, and even culture. The discussion focuses on seven of the largest national markets outside the United States: Japan, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Brazil. While there are notable differences between these markets, one especially important commonality distinguishes them from the United States: in every single market, the central government plays a pivotal role in the determination of drug prices by using its monopsonist power in negotiations with and regulations of drug manufacturers.

scholarly journals Effect of Using Ergobrass Ergonomic Supports on Postural Muscles in Trumpet, Trombone, and French Horn Players

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Price ◽  
Alan HD Watson
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Musculoskeletal Injury ◽  
Pectoralis Major ◽  
The Body ◽  
French Horn ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Brass Instruments ◽  
Postural Muscle ◽  
The Right ◽  
Postural Muscles

AIMS: Though ergonomic supports are widely used for many groups of instruments, they are rare for brass instruments, despite the instruments’ considerable weight. Musculoskeletal injury and postural problems are common among this group, and so, both adult and young players are likely to benefit from supports that reduce the load placed on the body. This study assessed the effects on postural muscle activity of a recently developed range of supports (Ergobrass) that use a rod to transfer the weight of the instrument to a harness or to the chair or floor. METHODS: Twenty conservatoire students (mean age [SD], 20.9 ± 0.5 yrs) of the trumpet, french horn, or trombone used the supports while playing short brass studies, either sitting or standing. Surface electromyography recordings were made from key postural muscles, and their activity levels were compared with and without the support. RESULTS: Statistically significant reductions (typically 15–30%) were present in many of the muscles when using the supports, though in some players they were much larger. The number of muscles affected was least with the lightest instruments (the trumpet), with the effects mainly in the left deltoid and trapezius muscles. Reductions for the horn were bilateral, principally in biceps, pectoralis major, and deltoid; while in the trombone, they were confined to the left side (pectoralis major, posterior deltoid, and trapezius), as the right arm is in constant use to move the slide. CONCLUSIONS: The supports are effective in reducing postural muscle activity and may be of particular benefit to injured or young players.

scholarly journals Flourishing Through Music Creation: A Qualitative Investigation of the Lullaby Project Among Refugee and Incarcerated Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Ascenso
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Positive Coping ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Perceived Change ◽  
Pilot Implementation

The Lullaby Project is an innovative model developed to support with vulnerable groups through community-based music creation. It pairs expectant and new mothers with professional musicians, to create a lullaby for their children. This paper presents an investigation of the project’s pilot implementation in the United Kingdom, bringing together musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, refugee mothers and inmate fathers from a central London prison. The research aimed to understand how the Lullaby Project was experienced, focusing on the potential areas of perceived change linked with the concept of mental health as flourishing. Participants (N=12) took part in semi-structured interviews and kept daily notes to aid recollection of the sessions in the interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was adopted as the research approach. Participants considered the project to carry significance for them in three key areas: (1) wellbeing, through a strong sense of accomplishment, meaning and connectedness, and the experience of positive emotions; (2) proactivity, promoting initiative, both musical and relational; and (3) reflectiveness, stimulating perspective-taking and positive coping mechanisms. The Lullaby Project offers an effective model towards promotion of flourishing among vulnerable groups, and the results make a strong case for its implementation.

scholarly journals Knowledge acquisition strategy, speed of capability development and speed of SME internationalisation

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 536-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael Hilmersson ◽  
Martin Johanson
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
International Markets ◽  
Development Theory ◽  
Capability Development ◽  
Acquisition Strategies ◽  
Acquisition Strategy ◽  
International Knowledge

From a study following two sequential on-site data collection stages at 618 internationalising SMEs in Sweden, Poland and China, we identify and validate four distinct international knowledge acquisition strategies. In contrast to traditional theories suggesting that firms develop capabilities by generating their own experience, we show that Grafters and Pragmatists have a higher speed of international capability development than Experiencers and Networkers. Subsequently, by drawing on capability development theory, we show that the speed of capability development has a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) effect on the speed of spread between international markets. These findings have consequences both for practitioners and theory.

Hypopharyngeal Pressure in Brass Musicians

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-155
Author(s):  
C Richard Stasney ◽  
Mary Es Beaver ◽  
Margarita Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
High Pressures ◽  
High Flow ◽  
French Horn ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Brass Instruments ◽  
Pharyngeal Pressure ◽  
Is Development

Brass instrument players are exposed to unique health risks due to increased pharyngeal pressures necessary for performance. One such risk is development of laryngoceles, or “blowout” of the larynx. This cross-sectional observational study was performed to determine the pressure required to play different frequencies in a variety of brass instruments. The hypothesis tested was that enharmonic frequencies require the same pharyngeal pressure regardless of the instrument. The brass instruments tested were high-pressure, low-flow instruments (trumpet or French horn) or low-pressure, high-flow instruments (tuba or trombone). We were not able to substantiate Jacobs’ theory that enharmonic frequencies resulted in equal pressures regardless of instrument, but we did elicit some high pressures in the hypopharynx when playing the trumpet or horn at higher frequencies.

Part II The Transatlantic Dialogue, 6 The United Kingdom—Gentlemanly Capitalism and the International Markets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Cally
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
International Markets ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Popular View ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
City Of London ◽  
The City

This chapter focuses on the regulation of international markets in the United Kingdom. Providing investor protection in the United Kingdom has been a fraught and difficult process. Even well into the 1980s, one very popular view in the City of London, openly espoused, was that it was not the role of government, nor was it necessarily either possible or desirable, to ‘protect fools from their own folly’. Rather, the gentlemen of the City, historical evidence to the contrary notwithstanding, insisted that their ‘impeccable’ behaviour provided all the protections necessary. Less than a decade ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) identified ‘uncertainty risk’ as the major threat to the City of London. At the time, massive regulatory change in the United Kingdom and a tidal wave of EU regulation in response to the global financial crisis were the immediate concerns. Despite the sea changes in the nature of markets and regulatory upheaval in the United Kingdom, the City sailed on. In hindsight, the uncertainty risks associated with the global financial crisis and the EU's regulatory agenda pale in comparison to those posed by Brexit.

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