Moving On Stage, Moving the Audience: The Overlooked Impacts of Body Language on Performance Reception of Classical Music

A large focus in productions of classical music is put towards executing the music at the highest level to achieve both the composer’s and interpreter’s visions. However, modern-day musicians often overlook the importance of visually conveying their music through their emotional expressions and movements. In this paper, I will examine existing research on audience perceptions of classical music performances, utilizing highly successful musicians as examples to determine their impact on audience reception of classical music. In so doing, I hope to develop strategies for greater audience engagement that will help music students and performers increase their connection to their auditors. The performers studied here include a soloist and a string quartet, both of whom have established rapport for the quality of their music-making and the physical nature of their performances. In addition to academic research, I will also reference recordings of the musicians’ performances to deepen the connection between the science and performance practice.