Individual Expressive Performance: Its Relationship to Ensemble Achievement, Technical Achievement, and Musical Background

Abstract

Participation in an expressive ensemble may be inappropriately presumed to produce expressive independence in individual ensemble members. This study is an examination of relationships between individual expressive achievement and (a) the expressive achievement of choral ensembles, (b) technical performance, and (c) musical background. Subjects included 11 high school choral ensembles and 82 individual ensemble members. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed no significant relationships between individual and ensemble expressive achievement. Cor-relations showed technical and expressive performance to be strongly related. Significantly related musical background factors from a MANOVA included: (a) involvement in outside performing groups, (b) semesters of high school choir, (c) private vocal lessons, and (d) age of first private lessons. The study provided grounds for questioning the assumption that expressive ensembles yield expressive individuals.