I am writing a paper about the development of modular musical technique, i.e., someone can get good at various controllers (joystick, MIDI sliders, turntable) and get good at various synths seperately via software, keyboards, sequencers, whatever. But these skills would then transfer even when combined in new and unfamiliar ways, like if someone makes their own instrument. Since people are designing their own instruments, I can see two ways of developing skills on that new instrument: the old way of practicing the instrument for a lifetime. That is very rare for a new instrument. More likely, people just play them without much practice, and build a performance around that.

So in order to create new instruments and achieve gain kind of skill with that new instruments, I think the skill has to be modular, you get good at the joystick and the mouse; then get good at various synths, software, sequencers, whatever. Then you have those separate modules of skill. Then if you make an instrument, you can pick and choose from those modules of technique and have to some skill when you play your new instrument.

The video game world does provide examples along these lines, gamers develop skills on their controllers of choice, then can transfer those skills to different styles of games.