The use of gestural modes to enhance expressive conducting at all levels of entering behavior through the use of illustrators, affect displays and regulators

Abstract

In this article, I discuss the use of illustrators, affect displays and regulators, which I consider to be non-verbal communication categories through which conductors can employ a more varied approach to body use, gesture and non-verbal communication. These categories employ the use of a conductor's hands and arms, face, eyes and body in a way that is currently being missed by many conducting programs. By utilizing three gestural modes, declamatory, corrective and narrative, conductors have a framework to apply these nonverbal communication categories, dependent on the skill level of the ensemble, the level of experience the ensemble has of the work at hand and the requirements of the music. Although corrective mode gestures are important for conductors, as they emphasize clarity and precision, more use could be made of illustrators and affect displays by conductors at all levels of entering behavior in order to access the declamatory mode, and regulators and affect displays in order to access the narrative mode. These modes promote the enhancement of expressive conducting beyond the beat patterns.