Cueing Motions in a String Quartet, An Exploratory Study of Motion Trajectories

Author

Maren Rothfritz, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

2-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

D.M.A.

Program

Music

Advisor

Johanna Devaney

Committee Members

Norman Carey

Philip Ewell

Scott Burnham

Subject Categories

Music Performance | Music Practice

Keywords

cueing motions, string quartet, motion trajectories, motion capture

Abstract

A string quartet performance involves an array of different body movements which serve many functions, including sound production, expression, and communication. This dissertation examines the ways string quartet players execute specific communicative body motions called cues, which are anticipatory gestures meant to communicate tempo and timing as well as the musical intentions such as dynamics, articulation, and character to the co-performers. Some scholarly research exists on cueing, but a formalized description of the cueing motions involved has not yet been developed. This dissertation serves as an exploratory study examining the motion trajectories of cueing motions employed by the Argus Quartet, aiming to identify consistent patterns within and across players that may suggest a shared cueing practice within the group.

The methodology for the dissertation relies on markerless motion caption using the Python-based program DeepLabCut. With DeepLabCut, I captured the movements of key Points of Interest (POIs) on each player, including the left hand, right hand, nose, frog, tip, and scroll. By comparing the motion trajectories of these POIs, I analyzed shape similarities both within individual players and across the ensemble. I specifically focus on what I term cue events, moments in the music that most likely require cueing. Cue events generally occur whenever performers look for guidance as to when and how to play together, such as at the beginnings of pieces, after musical interruptions, and after sudden tempo changes. The study used two stimuli: a group synchronization exercise from Heimann’s Exercises for String Quartet, designed to isolate cueing motions, and Haydn’s String Quartet Op. 33, No. 3, to explore cueing in a more authentic performance setting in a standard repertoire piece.

Findings indicate a common repertoire of cueing motions from which players select specific cues. This exploratory research lays some foundational work toward a formalized description of cues and a cueing technique. A standardized cueing technique could improve musicians' communicative effectiveness and cueing precision, impact string quartet pedagogy by making it easier to teach and learn cueing, and inform psychological research on group coordination, synchronization, and social dynamics such as nonverbal communication and leadership within musical ensembles.

Recommended Citation

Rothfritz, Maren, "Cueing Motions in a String Quartet, An Exploratory Study of Motion Trajectories" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/6158