"Moving to the music" while performing...when is it too much?

[jamie0168]

Most of us do it. We play a moving piece and our bodies just can't help but move with it. We'll move our heads, arms, shoulders, and sometimes our legs and feet. But when is it too much for a live audience?
In my own opinion, it's when the movement starts to distract the audience from the music itself. But that point of distraction varies from person to person. Some say it's when a pianist starts to throw his/her head back and forth. Other say it's when the pianist stands up and plays in gorilla stance  Share your experiences and beliefs.

[brahmsian]

If you're moving like Gould, it's too much.

[invictus]

Lang Lang 

[jamie_liszt]

Your right foot should always remain on or above the sustain pedal while your right leg remains still, your left leg could be placed near the soft pedal or moved back, more below the seat and move it foward when you need the soft pedal, your legs should not do any extra moving around to the music or for the fun of it, its just stupid,Thats just my opinion. I never pay attention to pianists legs. As far as the upper body, you should lean side to side if you need to for the low or higher notes so you arnt in any weird positions, your arms and shoulders of course would be moving, because its normal because your playing, if a hand is 
not playing it should be placed on the lap, or above the next note to hit, and as for additional movements that people claim "gets them in the music" is *** rediculous IMO, how is leaning back and foward,  bouncing up and down or looking into the air going to help to concentrate on the notes and sound better. maybe if you close your eyes it may help you hear it better, i do it sometimes. The above is just my opinion, dont you bitches go quoting me like you always do.

As for Glen Gould, i have heard many MP3's, I have seen some videos but not many, I think when hes playing with one hand and using his other hand as a conductor waving it around, holding it in the air is stupid. Is it for a reason, i think ive seen solo performances where he does this. The singing with the piano makes him look rediculous too, umm maybe in the videos you can't hear much but i have a video of him playing in like a house type thing and you can hear him over the piano its horrible. you should hear the piano, not him, if you need to sing, just hum quietly (i agree it helps keep time etc.)

Just make sure you don't move like lang lang because he looks pretty stupid, i agree that moving to the music becomes to much if the it takes the audiences attention off the music to the performer.

IMO IMO IMO IMHO!@!!!

[crazy for ivan moravec]

...The above is just my opinion, dont you bitches go quoting me like you always do.

Just make sure you don't move like lang lang because he looks pretty stupid, i agree that moving to the music becomes to much if the it takes the audiences attention off the music to the performer.

IMO IMO IMO IMHO!@!!!

hahaha! i wanna quote u!

just kidding... i agree regarding the moving thing, too.

happy new year!


-crazy

[cfortunato]

The movement aids the music.   If I don't move as I am moved to move (how's THAT for a painful grammatical construction?), I play less well.  And that's what counts, isn't it?

[pianohopper]

Perhaps this will be of use....

http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,11983.0.html

::cough:: search function

[dinosaurtales]

I've seen almost none (Alfred Brendel. Krystian Zimerman) to waaaaaay too much to the point of nausea (Lang Lang).   I'll take the former over the latter,  including just right (Louis Lortie, Idil  Biret)

[rohansahai]

I've seen almost none (Alfred Brendel. Krystian Zimerman) to waaaaaay too much to the point of nausea (Lang Lang).   I'll take the former over the latter,  including just right (Louis Lortie, Idil  Biret)

Have you seen the Gilels Prokofiev 3rd sonata video?
My opinion is that movement aids the impact on the audience ...if it is well choreographed.... if it distracts the audience, then its not due to the fact that you are moving , but that you are moving 'incorrectly'.

[jamie0168]

Perhaps this will be of use....

http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,11983.0.html

::cough:: search function

Oh, so sorry. Forgive me for looking for simple conversation pieces. I didn't realize that this forum had a rule that you couldn't talk about something once it's already been discussed. I'll be more careful about that in the future.