Klarinet Archive - Posting 000469.txt from 2010/11

From: Jennifer Jones <helen.jennifer@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Sabine Meyer & movement
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:16:10 -0500

I watched myself in a video recording made when I played an excerpt of
the Mozart concerto in high school. I thought I looked like a
huffing, straining, hunched, omphaloskeptic swaying person. Such
complaints about movement screwed with my self image. I was stuck
decoding tons of messages without a single constant
companion/confidant home to positively guide me through that stuff. I
had loving parents, but their goal seemed more superficial than
raising a healthy kid. I probably pushed them away too (socioeconomic
factors?). I know I still do, when I feel like things aren't
productive. In the end other things in school made me decide that I
was playing for myself and nobody else. Besides, I don't think
anybody made comments directly to me that I was moving too much.
Mostly it was indirect stuff that I overheard and observed. Dad made
some comment about keeping fingers close to tone holes and pointed out
squeaks, but there was no general familial criticism of moving made to
me.

I say, if it floats your boat, move. Don't worry about it, especially
if you have other things to worry about. Sabine Meyer's moving
performance should serve as a reassurance, that it is perfectly ok
until *you* decide that *you* don't like the aesthetic.

-Jennifer

Music is serious until other things become timely.

On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 4:13 AM, Kathy Williams
<kathleenwilliams76@-----.com> wrote:
> I'm sure the topic of movement has been done to death in this list, but there is movement and there is excessive movement. As an offender in my younger days, movement can be counterproductive if the excess of it influence the sound. I feel it a great pity that instrumentalists are not afforded the same movement and Alexander classes vocal students do. And I found once I started recording myself visually, the movement reduced dramatically. While some audience members close their eyes whilst listening to music, the vast majority don't and I feel as clarinettists, we need to be as aware of how we look on stage as much as how we sound.
>
> There are so many things in life to be serious about. Music shouldn't be one of them...
>
> Regards, Kathy Williams-DeVries

This was the same Mozart concerto performance that I got the
compliment about my breath control
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