Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to propose a method of evaluating piano performance skill by using eye movement data while reading scores. It is assumed that the ideal score reading is represented as an in-tempo eye movements where all notes constituting a beat should be captured within central vision area. A normative model representing the ideal score reading by skilled piano players is derived by assuming that they should be able to perform it by adjusting τC and ξs where AIA (Area of Information Acquisition) is the area from which meaningful information of the musical score should be acquired and ξs is the width of AIA, and τC is the time necessary for acquiring the information from AIA. This paper proposes a method for categorizing learners in terms of the level of piano playing skill by examining deviations of these quantities from those of the normative model. Eye movement data while reading musical scores were obtained from 59 participants. They were classied in three groups by applying the proposed method. The validity of the groping was checked by their scores of the end semester examination.
