Musical Entrainment Subsumes Bodily Gestures – Its Definition Needs a Spatiotemporal Dimension

Abstract

In his paper “What is entrainment? Definition and applications in musical research” (this issue), M. Clayton offers a definition of entrainment that is based on a timing dimension (relative phase relationships). However, this definition may be too limited when applied to musical entrainment. Based on the idea that human engagement with music is embodied and that gestures may condition entrainment, I suggest that the definition of entrainment be broadened so as to include a spatiotemporal dimension.

Keywords

• entrainment
• synchronization
• gestures
• embodied music cognition