Why PaR? Practice Reflections and Commentaries
Within this site you will find a slowly growing number of articles relating to my work as a PhD researcher at the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester, UK. My work is what is known as Practice-as-Research (PaR), an enquiry into the creative practices and creations of the individual. This is nested within an academic framework and lineage of similar enquiries within creative arts research and more specifically the electric bass guitar; my chosen medium.
Creative arts research is a relatively new field of academic study and one that generally aims to further knowledge through the examination of the processes of creation of artefacts and ideas. Decisions, hinderances, learnings, observations, reflections, are all a part of the creative practitioners palette for furthering their art and generating new knowledge hitherto unavailable through the general scientific approach. Not to discredit the well-defined quantitative scientific method, in fact, to a degree creative arts practitioners can utilise it within their practice. Qualitative scientific enquiry was born out of needing to answer questions that traditional science could not, and here now, PaR seeks to answer the questions that qualitative enquiry cannot. We are building upon a rich history of research methods and moving into the territory where art meets science.
Anyone interested in creative arts research, or perhaps hoping to begin some sort of study into their own practice, would do well to read Robin Nelson's 'Practice-as-Research and the Problem of Knowledge' (2006) or 'Practice as Research: Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry' edited by Estelle Barrett and Barbra Bolt. Both books explain PaR, its methods and aims far better than I could.
I am a bass player by trade, working professionally since 2008 when I graduated from the Leeds Conservatoire's Jazz course. Ever since my early love for music I have strived to become a better musician and partake that most likely never-ending journey trying to reach purity and perfection in my art. That road has seldom been a steady and straight one, as many would attest. I have often found my own development difficult and challenging and quite often was unable to find the answers I was looking for within the music education framework. However, through my studies I have come to realise that perhaps the best way to develop ones practice is to understand the hows, whys and whats of what one does.
In my final MMus project at the Royal Northern College of Music a few years ago, I put together an ensemble to perform my original pieces and arrangements of some of my favourite tunes. As primarily a session and supporting musician up to this point in my career this was new and uncharted territory. I released as my first album from the result of this concert. Available to download here, or to view on YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify. I titled it 'About Time', a reflection on how long it had taken me to create an album of my own after originally desiring as an early aspiring musician. This album was the first time I properly attempted to compose music, I had indeed tried before but never found it to be anything other than a successful exercise in self-loathing. Now however, I was actively enquiring into the what, whys and hows of my own practice, and things started to shift.
My current research project is two-pronged: self-reflection on creative practices in composing and arranging music based around the electric bass guitar; and general practice development. I hope to create new, interesting and engaging music centered around an instrument that is rarely given the opportunity to take a lead role.
This endeavour will be documented on this site through practice reflections; detailed insights into particular practice ideas and techniques I'll be working with; and, commentaries, comprehensive reflections on the pieces and recordings created. These can be found through theses blogs or on my personal YouTube channel. The finished creative works are being released through the new ensemble Second Circle. Here is a post relating to the ethos and aims of the ensemble. I also have a facebook group dedicated to casual discussion, sharing ideas, and insights on creative practice. The group is open to anyone and can be found here.
I hope that by enquiring into my own processes, decisions, and practices, to be able to become not only a better musician and composer, but to become a more mindful, wise, and knowledgeable music educator for those aspiring musicians who are struggling with their own journey.
I welcome comments and questions. Please feel free to get in touch via the web form, social media or nick@nicholasjameswaldock.uk
Posted In: Reflections on Practice
Tagged: Bass Guitar, PaR practice, Practice as research, RNCM
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