Exploring Co-Performer Communication

TLDR

This paper examines how two expert pianists develop and implement general social and specific non‑verbal communication while preparing and performing a piano duo recital. All ensemble rehearsals and the final performance were video‑taped, the musicians were interviewed afterward, and the recordings were coded for musical coordination, social interaction, non‑verbal gestures, and eye‑contact. The results show that rehearsals consolidated timing, phrasing, and style, while coordinated non‑verbal gestures and eye‑contact emerged and intensified, leading to greater expressive assurance and informing co‑performer interaction strategies.

Abstract

This paper examines the development and implementation of general social and specific non-verbal communication between two expert pianists who prepared and gave a recital of piano duo and duet music. All ensemble rehearsals and the final performance were video-taped. Following the performance, the musicians were interviewed in order to document their thoughts on the learning and performance processes. From the video-taped rehearsals and performance, data concerning musical coordination, social interaction, non-verbal gestures and looking behaviour were coded and counted. The results show that these excellent sight-readers used rehearsals to consolidate the timing, phrasing and sense of musical style. Moreover, an emergent set of coordinated, non-verbal gestures and eye-contact developed, with these actions increasing significantly over the rehearsal process at locations in the music identified by the pianists as “important for coordinating performance and communicating musical ideas”. Thus, the two performers acquired a deepening expressive and communicative assurance along with a familiarisation with the musical material. The findings are discussed in relation to their implications for musical performance by highlighting the elements of co-performer interaction that were negotiated and coordinated throughout the rehearsal process.