why is it that bobbing with the head while playing is a bad habit?

[ilovemusik]

thanks

[faulty_damper]

It looks bad.  Tap your foot instead.

[Bob]

Watch someone who does it.  Then you'll know.

Maybe there's something on youtube?

[rc]

A video would be good, I'm not sure just what you're referring to.

I know I sway a bit when I get into the music.  I think some movement is a natural response to enjoying music, and doesn't seem to hurt anything.

[gerry]

For God's sake don't tap your foot either. The trouble with bobbing the head is that if it is in time with the music, it emphasizes the downbeats and defeats any attempts at creating the illusion of a long phrase the spans several measures.

[faulty_damper]

For God's sake don't tap your foot either. The trouble with bobbing the head is that if it is in time with the music, it emphasizes the downbeats and defeats any attempts at creating the illusion of a long phrase the spans several measures.

You wanna tell that to jazz musicians?

[keypeg]

I guess that anyone reading a score while playing will not bob his head.   Can you imagine trying to see the notes mid-bob?   

[slobone]

Get a friend to videotape you while you're playing. If it doesn't look too bad, I wouldn't worry about it much. It shouldn't affect you techically, I don't think 

[gerry]

You wanna tell that to jazz musicians?

I wouldn't think of it as they're usually not too concerned with "creating the illusion of long phrases spanning several measures".

[slobone]

I wouldn't think of it as they're usually not too concerned with "creating the illusion of long phrases spanning several measures".

Which shows that you haven't listened to much jazz. That's fine if you don't enjoy it -- I'm not going to start that whole argument over again in another thread.

[counterpoint]

"why is it that bobbing with the head while playing is a bad habit?"

Is it?

[bonjing]

According to Newman it usually indicates that the player is trying to make up for a hitch in his realization of the pulse.

what does he mean then??

[counterpoint]

According to Newman it usually indicates that the player is trying to make up for a hitch in his realization of the pulse.

what does he mean then??

Depends on whats intended with the "head bobbing"     I would use it for some syncopated rhythms (on the syncopated notes, not on the beat) or in other cases on the beat, if the rhythm is not understandable otherwise (Brahms Sonata for 2 pianos / Piano Quintet, 4th movement, the part in C# minor - just as an example)

[guendola]

It is like whistling in a theater, you just don't do it. People argue that any unnecessary action (a very arguable expression) should be avoided because it could interfere with your performance. Therefore you aren't allowed to tap your foot either. All these movements are reserved strictly to pop musicians and very famous pianists - the latter even becoming more famous because of their special behaviours - like Horowitz, who was known for curling his small fingers or Lang Lang for spending 50% of his energy on excitement.

[slobone]

It is like whistling in a theater, you just don't do it. People argue that any unnecessary action (a very arguable expression) should be avoided because it could interfere with your performance. Therefore you aren't allowed to tap your foot either. All these movements are reserved strictly to pop musicians and very famous pianists - the latter even becoming more famous because of their special behaviours - like Horowitz, who was known for curling his small fingers or Lang Lang for spending 50% of his energy on excitement.

Or Glenn Gould for humming and sitting practically on the floor. Or Radu Lupu for using a very odd looking chair. Or De Pachmann for talking to himself and/or the audience as he played. Or  that guy from the Beaux Arts Trio who put his face down practically on the keyboard so he could see the other musicians better (I guess that's why did it). Or...

And both Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles were known for their head bobbing.

[guendola]

And both Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles were known for their head bobbing.

But they don't count, they don't play classical music. Head bobbing is a don't in classical music only, it is a matter of style (silly or not, that's how it is).

[elspeth]

It is like whistling in a theater, you just don't do it.

Unfortunately you chose a bad example to illustrate your point! Not whistling in theatres nowadays is really just a tradition, but a hundred years ago it was totally practical. In Victorian times the stage crews had no radios or other modern means of talking to each other, of course, so they would whistle many of their cues and instructions to each other. That meant that if you wandered on stage and thoughtlessly whistled, there was a reasonable chance you'd get a sandbag dropped on your head from the fly floor because you'd accidentally whistled that code to the flyman! Hence it was an understood thing that you didn't whistle in theatres unless you were one of the crew and doing it intentionally to get a message to one of your colleagues.

[Bob]

Bobbing is kind of like when a speaker sways.  Back and forth, back and forth.  It's a distraction.

There are times when movement is okay, but those are not done all the time.  Maybe even a scream if you're into the piece that much. 

[guendola]

Unfortunately you chose a bad example to illustrate your point! Not whistling in theatres nowadays...

Ok, maybe this one is better: "You don't go shopping nude"

But who knows, maybe my example was right and the reason why head bobbing was banned from concert halls dates back to the times where people had wigs instead of hair shampoo.

[keymoo]

My teacher insists that I move in some way when I play because music is a movement - i.e. it has a beat. I do love the way Michelangeli plays though, dead still.