Visual Interaction between Performers and Audience Members during Music Performance

Abstract

The aim of this study was to review the roles of visual cues in communication between
performers and audience members during a music performance. Although numerous
studies have elucidated that visual cues convey such elements as performance manners,
emotional expressions, musical structure, or sound expressions, little has been done to
provide a holistic perspective of these findings. Thus, we scrutinized how visual cues af-
fect the encoding of performers’ intentions or the decoding of a performance by audience
members. With respect to each cue, the existing literature has revealed that body move-
ment directs the manner of performance, emotional expression, and musical structures
toward the audience members. Specific parts of the body, particularly, demonstrate
this tendency. Facial expressions serve to convey emotional expressions and features
of sound. Gaze is regarded as an important cue for communication, although its role
remains unclear. Physical attractiveness and attire also influence performance evalua-
tions. Overall, visual cues dominate over auditory cues and have a powerful impact on
performer-audience interaction in many studies. These results contribute to a deeper
understanding of music performance and music appreciation in concert or under mul-
timodal conditions.