Be sure to indicate the reflection number in the heading of your paper and
follow other expectations for format
and writing criteria.
Anthropologists remind us that technology is fundamentally an extension
of human capabilities and the result of various adaptive strategies. Seen
in this regard, all musical instruments are examples of technology. After
all, they are tools that extend our capabilities. Yet technological developments
also shape what we produce by subjecting us to the limits of what such tools
can accomplish. Discuss the emergence of electronic technology in music
in light of both perspectives: as expanding our options and as limiting
our options. Cite examples to support your points.
How do technological changes help determine the musical elements we value
and the structures we choose to employ in musical creation? (Think about
the implications of the pianoforte and its development in 1709. Compare
that situation with other more recent developments.)