Expressive Movements in Piano Performance: The Inducing Factors
Chen Meng · Journal of Human Movement Science · 2024
Music and body movement are interconnectedly linked. Through a multidisciplinary perspective, this research aims to synthesise insights from physiology, psychology, and performance literature to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and effects of how music interpretation elicits both involuntary and voluntary bodily responses. Four influential factors that may induce an un-technique performing movement for musicians are found: 1) musical scores, 2) performer expertise, 3) personal traits, and 4) the environmental context of performances. The findings emphasise the pedagogical importance of integrating body awareness and expressive movement in piano education, advocating for a methodological shift that prioritises these aspects to significantly enhance students’ performing expressivity. Further, the study advances the comprehension of how these elements interact to shape musical expressive movements, deepens students' musical engagement, and redefines conventional teaching paradigms, enriching both the practice and theory of music education at a scholarly level.