From motion to emotion: Using improvisational theatre as a tool for enhancing musicians' expressive skills

Background
The importance of learning to create an expressive performance is a consistently discussed topic in music education. However, how musicians develop “expressiveness” is still understudied. Recent investigations have shown that musicians’ motor behavior is a significant source of perceptual information during performances (Davidson, 2007), as it helps audiences differentiate musicians’ expressive intentions and it often serves as a
performance quality indicator (Waddell & Williamon, 2017). Nevertheless, most current teaching approaches in Higher Music Education focus mainly on acoustic characteristics of performance, and they lack clear goals and systematic teaching patterns (Karlsson & Juslin, 2008; Meissner, 2021).

For centuries, some of the most influential theater methods have used physical exploration (motion) to stimulate imagination and create affective states (emotions) in actors. These approaches are rooted in embodied cognition theories, which claim that physical experience shapes conceptual thought, and this is contingent upon the body’s interactions with its environments (Kemp, 2012). Drawing inspiration from theater practices, the method “From
motion to emotion” for enhancing expressiveness was developed by this author, using improvisational theater as a basis.

Aims
This workshop is designed to acquaint participants with the method. We will share insights and reflections from previous participants to demonstrate its effects and will foster discussion around teaching approaches.

Short outline of the activities to be undertaken by the presenters/audience
After an oral introduction to improvisational theater, participants will engage in practical exercises to experience it firsthand, exploring how to acquire a “physical vocabulary” applicable to music performance. Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences during debrief moments. This workshop is accessible to individuals with no previous theater experience. The total duration would be 90 minutes.

Implications for practice
This contribution emphasizes the importance of integrating visual characteristics of performance in teaching approaches, increasing musicians’ body awareness, and strengthening body-mind connection. These efforts can positively impact individuals’ development, enabling them to create convincing performances while boosting self-
confidence.

Specific value of the workshop for the conference
This method merges embodied cognition theories with theater techniques to innovate educational approaches to expressiveness, making it relevant for musicians wanting to enhance this skill, music educators aiming to teach it, and experts from the field of psychology interested in how it develops.