Klarinet Archive - Posting 000108.txt from 1999/06

From: Alan.Woodcock@-----.net
Subj: [kl] Posture, Hara, Tai Chi, etc.
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1999 06:30:30 -0400

Does anybody use the techniques of Hara or Tai Chi when giving a standing
performance?

For what it is worth (which is not much; I am another of those retirement
boomers who has taken up the clarinet again after a 40 year break, and my
experience with Tai Chi totals about 6 months) I gave a solo with our local
orchestra recently and tried to apply appropriate principles: feet rooted
in the ground, head suspended by a thread, centre of gravity concentrated
below the navel.

I found I was very comfortable. Afterwards several people commented
positively on my posture. (Of course, perhaps this was a ploy to avoid
commenting on my playing... )

It would be most interesting if any Japanese or Chinese members of this
list had any opinions on this subject.

(I know there are people who say you should not stand, but let us take
their arguments as read; that is not my question.)

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