What are your thoughts on body movement, specifically too much of it emotionally, or how much is too much, or is there even a such thing as too much?
As long as the movement is for your pleasure only. I like to move a lot. There is this thing about sitting at a bench for hours and only minimally moving the body that is just so... stiff.I do everything imaginable, except screaming. I cross my legs (a la Gould), I stomp them to the beat, I tremor my legs to no beat just for the sake of moving them. You get it. As long as it's for your pleasure alone.
What an interesting question. My daughter is a dancer (and martial artist also) and moves very gently when playing her more "moving" pieces-especially Chopin. I guess maybe because she's young and is more expressive. Her teacher does not think it's too much movement, and in fact he notes how graceful she is when she does play. I don't think he wants to discourage any child from enjoying the piece they are playing (as long as as as some of you have noted, it is not distracting or contrived). In attending concerts, I think it's more interesting if the pianist has some sublte movements. IMO, it adds to the pleasure of watching a great musician enjoy his/her music! Cheers, Lani
I believe body movements are useful only and ONLY when it somehow enhances the music. Liszt has been known to finish off virtuosic performances with the arms flailing out on the last thunderous chord. This IS appropriate because it truly creates a spectacle for the audience and enhances the music. However, it is easy for body movements to turn into "mannerisms"- movements not at all related to the music, but something the performer does in bad taste- or with lack of control. You would never want to flail your arms out wildly during the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, now would you? It simply ruins the music AND the performers reputation.donjuan
Bernhard, are you aware that dancers are musical idiots?
However, Chinese dance is completely the opposite of Western dance. Expression comes first, movement just follows. And more importantly, movement matches music! What an innovative concept.
Fun fact: A ballerina's life span lasts only until their 30s. After that, they get fired. All those years of hard work and it lasts only about 10 years. And all because they aren't youthful and attractive anymore. Are audiences that shallow or what? They actually get better as they age, but who wants to see a performance done beautifully if the performer has one wrinkle on her face? I can tolerate two wrinkles. Kinda sad, huh?
And by the way (I just thought of that) this is the main reason why pianists should follow martial artists rather than dancers.In the (properly conducted) martial arts, injuries from training must be avoided at all costs, otherwise you will be in the ridiculous situation of being too injured from the training to defend yourself, to actually defend yourself.Best wishes,Bernhard.
Bernhard, that is a brilliant analogy! I understand what you are saying- Pianists are so similar to martial artists on so many levels- now I understand the reasons why I practice- ahhhh, I SEE THE LIGHT!!! iT BURNS!!!!
Yes, I heard this theory - but I do not know personally any dancer, so I cannot verify it. I also heard the converse one: that pianists (and musicians) are terrible dancers - for all their knowledge of music and rhtyhm - and often have two left feet. Best wishes,Bernhard.
And by the way (I just thought of that) this is the main reason why pianists should follow martial artists rather than dancers.In the (properly conducted) martial arts, injuries from training must be avoided at all costs, otherwise you will be in the ridiculous situation of being too injured from the training to defend yourself, to actually defend yourself.
In martial arts, one must sustain and experience some injuries in order to achieve a level of expert training-how else do you develop instincts and movements in self defense? As a martial artist and mom of a second dgree black belt, you cannot totally avoid being injured. Sparring is a controlled excercise under the best of cricumstances, but it is impossible not to get bruised or slightly injured when training-it comes with the territory. However, forms (katas) are really amazing when performed at expert level, and you don't have any injuries in karate or taekwondo (other than the training involved in holding a side kick for say ten seconds), but you do when training for the acrobatics used in wushu (chinese martial arts).
there are moves of the hand or of the body that can help you play - it's important that you keep moving all the time, cause stiffness leads to muscular cramps and pains. not to mention that once you stop you need an impulse to get started again, which is time and energy consuming...apart from the moves that help you play, everything else is pure show, so thanks, but no thanks. i've seen hundreds of pianists playing live and i can tell you all showy pianists should stop taking ballet lessons and try some piano lessons in exchange.