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Abstract

The ability to perform music is widespread in the gen-
eral population (e.g. singing), but few individuals
develop a high level of musical proficiency. Skilled mu-
sicianship typically requires decades of regular prac-
tice, estimated at 10,000 hours (Ericsson, Krampe,
& Tesch-Römer, 1996; Howe, Davidson, & Sloboda,
1998). Through this prolonged engagement with mu-
sic, performers acquire outstanding motor skills and
an enormous body of knowledge about music. Over
the past two decades, this knowledge and skill has
been the subject of intense scientific investigation. In
this special issue, leading researchers of performance
review their recent and ongoing investigations in four
broad areas of focus: applied cognitive psychology,
analysis-by-synthesis, movement control, and neuro-
science.