Keeping the Beat: A Case on the Effects of Communication in Musical Teams During Performances
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This case study examined whether the effects of positive team affect and team communication quality on the performance quality, or taskwork quality, of teams comprised of musicians, and if team communication quality could further improve the taskwork quality of a group of musicians. It was believed that participants with higher positive team affect scores would perform at a higher taskwork quality than those with lower positive team affect scores. In addition, it was believed that participants that engaged in higher-quality team communication during performances would strengthen this relationship, further increasing taskwork quality. The participants were divided into teams, and the teams (N=7) were taken as individual trials, as all data was collected on the team level. The participants (N=22) were asked to perform a piece of jazz music of their choice under the observation of researchers and faculty. The participants rated positive team affect using a survey before performances and then rated team communication quality using a survey after performances. Jazz faculty members rated performances to determine taskwork quality. The participants’ performances were recorded for further coding of communication and playback ability. Positive team affect was shown to be positively correlated with taskwork quality. Support for interaction was not found. This study shows the potential for music teams to be used as a method for understanding non-traditional teams. This study also shows how non-verbal communication-based teams follow previous research findings regarding positive team affect and taskwork quality.
Source: DigitalCommons@UNO
Author: Christie, Shane
Institution: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223620635