The influences of facial expression and conducting gesture on college musicians' perceptions of choral conductor and ensemble expressivity

The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of facial expression and conducting gesture on perceptions of choral conductor and ensemble expressivity. College musicians (N = 156) viewed excerpts of two choral conductors who had been recorded conducting with either an expressive conducting gesture and a neutral/static face or an expressive facial expression and a neutral/static conducting gesture. They then rated the expressivity of the conductor and of the ensemble. Results indicated no significant differences in participant ratings of choral conductor expressivity or ensemble expressivity (p > .05) between conditions. Responses to open-ended questions revealed four themes that impacted perceptions of ensemble and conductor expressivity: facial expression, conducting gestures, musical elements, and conductor investment.