Co-speech hand gestures have been observed in all human cultures, including even those persons with limited or non-existent eyesight. While the conductor makes their living using their hands to shape music, performers sometimes use their hands only in a limited fashion during rehearsal or only in certain styles. A recent study demonstrated that performers self-report a higher level of expressively and are perceived by trained auditors as being more expressive both in audio-only and audiovisual presentation modes. This fits into a body of research that supports the use of gesture for intonation, vocal tone, streamlined assessments, and decreasing teacher talk. Implications for the use of gesture in rehearsal and performance will be discussed.placeholder