Individual Expressive Performance: Its Relationship to Ensemble Achievement, Technical Achievement, and Musical Background

Abstract

Participation in an expressive ensemble may be inappropriately presumed to produce expressive independence in individual ensemble members. This study is an examination of relationships between individual expressive achievement and (a) the expressive achievement of choral ensembles, (b) technical performance, and (c) musical background. Subjects included 11 high school choral ensembles and 82 individual ensemble members. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed no significant relationships between individual and ensemble expressive achievement. Cor-relations showed technical and expressive performance to be strongly related. Significantly related musical background factors from a MANOVA included: (a) involvement in outside performing groups, (b) semesters of high school choir, (c) private vocal lessons, and (d) age of first private lessons. The study provided grounds for questioning the assumption that expressive ensembles yield expressive individuals.

Shaping Expressive Performance: A Problem-Solving Approach

“…4 The relationship between ensemble achievement and individual achievement has also been studied in relation to sight-singing, again with no significant link.5 Why? In the ensemble setting, students must learn to follow conductors' directions-whether in the form of conducting, verbal instruction, or modeling.…”

Assessment in Music Education: from Policy to Practice

“…In the context of group learning, Broomhead (2001) identifies expressivity in relation to vocal learning by concluding that the time spent as an active group participant also aids in individual expressivity. Stating that a "central goal" (Broomhead,p.…”

“…While Broomhead (2001) highlights the complexity of facilitating expressive techniques in an ensemble context, his research focuses on a traditional model of ensemble learning and performance where a conductor provides and interprets the performance repertoire. In contrast, and with the primary aim of facilitating "expressive problem solving opportunities" and "expressive independence" (Broomhead,p.…”

The effects of projected films on singers’ expressivity in choral performance.

“…These studies may consider application of other modes and tools for collecting data such as the incorporation of a detailed survey tool such as Broomhead's (2001) Expressive Performance Achievement Measure (EPAM) survey or a continuous data collecting method that could accept more than one line of data simultaneously such as the 2D CRDI technology (Geringer, Madsen, & Gregory, 2004) in order to measure multiple music factors leading to a preference decision.…”

“…In order to investigate beyond the measurement of individual expressive achievement (Steinberg & Raith, 1985), Broomhead (2001) sought to determine if there was a relationship between an individual's music expression and an ensemble's music expression in a choral setting. Using a sample of 11 high school choral ensembles, consisting of 82 individual ensemble members, results showed no significant relationship between ensemble expressive achievement and individual expressive achievement.…”