The Use of Nonverbal Communication in Music Performing Arts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E72RzUk0WZM&spfreload=5

Ethnographic Interview Questions 10 Participants 8 Males and 2 Females Ages varied between 18-27 One year of experience of WGI at minimum.

Questions 3 and 4 3. On how many occasions that during rehearsals or performances for the group were you told to perform and “communicate” with your audience (whether by a judge, staff member, or consultant). 4. Can you describe what it felt like to perform to the “box” or to the audience at shows or in the warm-up areas? Similar patterns from all the participants

Questions 5 and 6 5. What exactly prepared you to perform through nonverbal means? 6. What do you find most important about communicating via performing, the nonverbal look or vocal exclamations (i.e. screaming, yelling, any vocal noise)? The Non Verbal Look 70% Vocal Exclamations 0% Both 30%

Questions 7 and 8 7. Do you feel that you can build a quick interpersonal relationship with your audience as you perform/performed your production? 8.Do you feel that the emotion of the show is what brings quality to the performance and to the relationship with your audience? Both questions showed a similar pattern between participants

Questions 9 and 10 9. Can you describe how nonverbal communication can signify the emotions you are trying to connect with your audience? Extremely detailed responses from participants 10. Can you describe the most distinguishable facial features you make? Sad/Passionate 20% Happy/Goofy 10% Angry/Arrogance 40% Focus/Intensity 30%

Questions 11, 12, and 13 11. Can you describe if you’ve ever made eye contact with an audience member, and what that felt like? 12. Could you describe the feeling that performing gives you? 13. Could you describe the messages and meaning you receive from your audience? All responses had similar patterns

Question 14 14. Do you believe that through this art of performing, that you can fully communicate with an audience through non-verbal communication? Yes 80% Possibly 20% No 0%

Summary

Possible hypothesis to continue research: • Nonverbal communication cues in performance are more readable than vocal communication. • Performers use nonverbal communication to build a deeper layer of relationship with their audience members.

The world is a complicated place, and there's a lot of division between people. The performing arts tend to unify people in a way nothing else does. - David Rubenstein