Playing a musical instrument

Hands or body operating an instrument show that it is being played.

Visual traits

• musical instrument
• hand or body operation
• contact while playing

Expected changes

• Contact between instrument and hands is more likely to appear
• The body is more likely to take a playing arrangement

Definition

Playing a musical instrument is an action in progress of operating an instrument with the hands or body to make sound. It does not determine the instrument type, musical genre, performance event, person attributes, or emotion.

In more detail

Showing the contact among instrument, hands, and body makes the action of playing legible. Song, sound, stage, audience, and clothing are separate choices. It is distinct from a scene that merely includes an instrument.

Includes

• One person playing an instrument
• Hand or body operation that produces sound

Excludes

• A scene containing only an instrument
• A particular music tradition or performance event
• A song title or person attributes

What this does not imply

• A particular instrument
• music tradition
• performance event
• emotion
• or person attributes

Variability

Instrument type and body orientation can be adjusted separately. Keep the instrument and the operating body part in frame.

Usage

• Show the instrument and the hands or body operating it

Distinguish similar expressions

• Specify instrument type and musical style separately

Typical uses

• Show a person playing a musical instrument

Possible failure modes

• The subject merely holds an instrument
• Hand or body operation is not visible