Seeing Each Other Through Music
(2025)
author(s): Ron Aviv
published in: KC Research Portal
Musical performance is not only an aesthetic endeavour, but also a captivating social environment. Hence, this research utilizes principles from social communication theory, mainly through Communicating (Berko et al., 2016), to explore new ways of highlighting and enhancing connections with and among music audiences. A starting point for this study is that most concerts nowadays are built in a similar style to public speaking but use some anachronistic views and inefficient communication methods, thus missing opportunities to convey a message more directly and achieve greater impact. Through literature study and practical experimentation, I will review and test the influence of different factors from interpersonal-communication style – elements that have not been documented and researched enough in this context. These include, among others, performer-audience eye contact, synchronized activity (based on entitativity studies), and vulnerability and openness. The experimental process will be limited to my own artistic practice as a classically trained pianist and free-improviser, and this focus is present in the gathered literature as well. As a qualitative study, the data analyzed is assembled from observations, feedback, and reflection. Results demonstrate how different social and communicational tools create varying levels of engagement, and how challenging the normative role of the listeners can create a more demanding experience yet with more fulfilling outcomes. A performance that really involves the audience enriches everyone, and I hope this paper can inspire new ideas for musicians and artists of any kind to explore this topic further, and to communicate better with the human environment around them.
"Inseparable": Music and Dance in a Cross-Disciplinary Practice
(2024)
author(s): Kalina Vladovska
published in: KC Research Portal
The following research observes the artistic creative process of a cross-disciplinary theatrical dance and percussion performance, called “Inseparable”. It discusses and analyses the process and methods behind the creation of the piece; the pros and cons of dance-percussion collaboration, and of working as a team of performer-creators; the involvement of a director; the creation of the final performance with a technical crew (light & sound); and the emergence of a mutual artistic language.
The cast includes Zaneta Kesik and Matija Franjes - two dancers (doubling as choreographers), and Joao Brito and Kalina Vladovska - two percussionists (doubling as composers), creating the narrative, dramaturgy, choreography and (some of the) music on their own. The director, Renee Spierings, was invited to be an external coach. Teus van der Stelt and Maurits Thiel - light and sound artists - took care of the final presentation. The four performances took place during and thanks to Muziekzomer Gelderland 2023 and were produced by Jarick Bruinsma.
Furthermore, in the research I discuss the social impact of the project's themes – technology addiction and human communication - and I examine a number of reactions and feedback from audience members.
The chosen form of presentation is a research exposition.
Deep Listening Today: Connecting with audiences through the music and teachings of Pauline Oliveros and others
(last edited: 2023)
author(s): Joseph Puglia
connected to: KC Research Portal
This exposition is in progress and its share status is: visible to all.
Work in progress...
This study explores a year's worth of research into how performers, composers and audiences can highlight different ways of listening in order to better communicate with one another. Inspired by the work of Pauline Oliveros, the study takes an in-depth look at Oliveros' Deep Listening practice, and how aspects of this practice and other works of Oliveros might be incorporated into traditional concert settings, with audience participation, to deepen connections between performers and audience members.
Further attention is given to works of James Tenney and Cornelius Cardew which highlight certain aspects of listening and music making, and which can be used to explore how we give meaning to sounds and symbols.