Abstract

: It is often assumed that the best way to learn about an object involves observing it. That is why teachers bring live ferrets to the nature table. However, what is often assumed may not always be true. Why visit a place when you can watch a film about it? A film is cheaper and might do a better job of delivering the salient information.This article discusses the impact of this issue on the role of live performances in disseminating music. Suppose you want to get to know some unimprovised musical work intended for concert performance. Must you see it live? Or would a decent recording do?The author argues that, most of the time, recording technology offers a mode of access to the work's musical properties that is at least as good as the access that a live performance can offer. This does not mean that concert performances are a waste of breath. But it means that we should be careful about the claims we make for them, especially in music education. It also means that musicologists and music educators should channel more energy than they do into understanding and promoting the distinctive analytical tools that the playback experience provides