Effect of Magnitude of Conductor Behavior on Students in Selected Mixed Choruses

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of magnitude of conductor behavior on performance, attentiveness, and attitude of students in mixed choruses. Four mixed choruses (one university and three high schools) were rehearsed under three conditions: (1) with regular conductor, (2) with high magnitude conductor, and (3) with low magnitude conductor. Magnitude was defined a priori by the experimenter and subsequently observed using the Music Conductor Observation Form developed for this study. In addition the effect of magnitude was measured by (1) judges' ratings of audiotaped musical performances, (2) behavioral observation of student attentiveness, and (3) self-report of student attitude. Although results indicated no significant differences in musical performance, attentiveness, or attitude ratings among baseline and the two experimental conditions, high and low magnitude, three of the groups received their lowest ratings under the low magnitude condition, off-task percentage was lower during the high magnitude condition, and data demonstrated student preference for the high magnitude conductor.