Effects of Conducting With or Without a Musical Score on Observers’ Perceptions of Conductors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of conductor score use (conducting with a musical score vs. conducting without a score) on observers’ perceptions of conductors. We also examined how those effects may differ when viewed from the ensemble perspective compared to the audience perspective. Participants ( N = 126) were collegiate musicians who viewed two video recordings of a conductor leading a collegiate symphonic band through an excerpt of Grainger’s Colonial Song. In one video, participants viewed the conductor using a musical score. In the other video, the conductor did not use a musical score. Half of the participants viewed the videos showing the front view of the conductor (ensemble perspective), and the other half viewed the back view of the conductor (audience perspective). Participants rated the conductor’s competence and knowledge of the score in each video. Results indicated a significant effect due to score condition. However, that effect was not independent of viewing perspective or presentation order. Responses to open-ended questions indicated that conductor gesture was the most common aspect observed by participants, but participants also reported that conductor score use was one of the common aspects noticed when evaluating knowledge of the score.