This study examines the effects of imitating other musicians on one’s instrument as well as how this impacts one’s playing. Furthermore, it seeks to illuminate the question of what the ear notices first when listening non-analytically to music with the goal of copying a certain way of playing. The result of the work would be demonstrated at a concert with mostly original music.

A selection of musicians and recordings to imitate was made, and the imitation happened on 8 different occasions with varying constellations and different musicians participating. During the process it was made clear that the musician’s ear mainly picks up on the overall feeling and attitude of soloists, but also some small details such as nuances in timbre and intonation. In the preparation of the concert some songs were more or less tailored to a certain way of playing, inspired by the recordings. The resulting concert clearly shared some characteristics with some of the recordings, as well as having little in common with others.