Silent score reading: Four Swedish choral conductors’ conceptions, processes, and strategies

Abstract

In research on music conducting, there is a lack of studies concerning conductors’ score-reading. The present investigation explored the reading strategies of four Swedish choral conductors. Two interconnected studies addressed the conductors’ explicit conceptions about score reading and their silent-reading strategies in actual reading situations. All conductors emphasized overviewing and script-like cognitive strategies, read relatively linearly, and tended to combine holistic descriptions with quicker scanning. However, verbal reports also revealed individual cognitive orientations that appeared to influence the conductors’ eye movements. These findings contribute to the understanding of the contrast between shared models of professional practice and individual reading styles.

Keywords

• conductors
• musical expertise
• music reading
• silent reading
• eye movements