THE EFFECTS OF CONDUCTOR FACIAL EXPRESSION ON MUSICAL EXPRESSIVITY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND STUDENTS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether approving, disapproving, and neutral conductor facial expressions had an effect on middle school band students’ perceived level of expression of wind ensemble performances. Middle school concert band students (N = 23) watched nine one-minute videos of three actors’ varying facial expressions with accompanying band music. Students rated the expressivity of each one-minute performance on a scale of 1 (not very expressive) to 10 (very expressive). The experiment was conducted as an online survey. Survey data was gathered through Qualtrics (https://www.qualtrics.com) by a designated research administrator. Data were analyzed using a Friedman Two-Way Analysis of Variance by Ranks. Results indicated that conductor facial expressions significantly affected middle school concert band student ratings of ensemble expressivity, X²(3) = 27.29, p < 0.000. Dunn-Bonferroni post hoc pairwise comparisons suggested approving facial expressions were perceived as significantly more expressive than neutral or disapproving facial expressions, with neutral facial expressions yielding the lowest participant ratings.