Saunders, J (2026) 'Trying to keep up: managing cognitive load in audio scores.' In: Schimana, E, ed. TENOR: Eleventh International Conference on Technologies for Music Notation and Representation, Vienna, Austria 21–24 May 2026. University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, pp. 25-30. ISBN 9780648159223
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Abstract
This paper examines how cognitive load theory can inform the design of audio scores that deliberately create unstable performance situations. Audio scores present temporal information that may be unknown in advance and which constantly disappears, creating unique cognitive demands compared to static visual notation. Drawing on cognitive load theory from instructional design, I identify how intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive load—alongside specific effects including split-attention, modality, transient information, and task switching—shape performer responses to dense streams of verbal instruction. Unlike instructional design, which aims to reduce extraneous cognitive load to optimize learning, my compositional approach deliberately manipulates these parameters to create productive difficulty. Through discussion of two recent pieces I consider how varying the density, simultaneity, and sequentiality of verbal cues generates distinct performance conditions. The discussion explores how player control over pacing fundamentally alters the way cognitive load manifests, shifting from individual overwhelm to distributed decision-making. For composers working with audio scores, this suggests practical strategies: manipulating verbal instruction parameters provides direct control over extraneous load while keeping individual task complexity low, and incorporating repeated instructional patterns helps players develop response schema.
| Item Type: | Book Chapter or Section |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | M Music and Books on Music > M Music |
| Divisions: | School of Music and Performing Arts |
| Research Centres and Groups: | OpenScores Lab Research Group |
| Related URLs: | |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Sep 2026 19:19 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Sep 2026 19:19 |
| URN: | https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/17930 |
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