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This paper reports on the experience gained after five years of teaching
a NIME master course designed specifically for artists. A playful
pedagogical approach based on practice-based methods is presented
and evaluated. My goal was introducing the art of NIME design and
performance giving less emphasis to technology. Instead of letting
technology determine how we teach and think during the class, I
propose fostering at first the student's active construction and
understanding of the field experimenting with physical materials,
sound production and bodily movements. For this intention I
developed a few classroom exercises which my students had to study
and practice. During this period of five years, 95 students attended the
course. At the end of the semester course, each student designed, built
and performed a new interface for musical expression in front of an
audience. Thus, I describe and discuss the benefits of applying
playfulness and practice-based methods for teaching NIME in art
universities as well as some lessons learned from this pedagogical
experience.