david bebbington

Examining the role of the keyboard-based musical director in contemporary popular music performance

Image of band performing on stage

A portfolio of practice research with reflective commentary

My research examines the creative practice of the keyboard-based musical director in contemporary popular music. 

Based in practice, with myself as case study, the work consists of reflection, performance and textual analysis designed to elucidate the complexities of the discipline. The professional performance work I undertake is extremely stylistically varied and frequently undertaken with minimal opportunity, if any, to rehearse and run through material in advance of the show itself. This enquiry aims to create a framework by which musicians can begin to understand the working contemporary context of, and to define the role of, the keyboard-based musical director. The work is a reflective practice doctorate consisting of a portfolio of filmed performance integrated with written commentary. The outcomes of the research will be of interest to the profession, particularly to the keyboard-based musical director, and within pedagogy.

Image of band performing on stage
Image of singer performing on stage