Klarinet Archive - Posting 000120.txt from 2011/03

From: Margaret Thornhill <clarinetstudio@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] standing, sitting
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:43:47 -0400

Kathy,

Recently I've taken a few years of Alexander Technique lessons in order to
see how this powerful tool helps clarinet performance. I've organized
masterclasses for clarinetists with the same teacher and what I've seen and
heard as "before and after" with them is nothing short of miraculous
sounding. What I've found out is: most players (even professionals)
habitually sit with bad "use" of their bodies, shoulders tight, head tilted
down, back hunched. (This is reinforced, btw, by having our stands lower
than our eyes, so we are looking down towards the floor, and by
uncomfortable chairs offering poor support.) All this affects breathing, for
many, a slight repositioning done by the teacher opens up the sound and
breathing resulting in freer, more comfortable playing. I go on record
saying that these lessons have been the most important thing I've done for
my playing since stopping formal lessons a few decades ago. So to tie this
to questions about sitting vs. standing: it seems that several of these
stressed posture issues disappear --for everyone--when standing.

You are a very accomplished player with a nice tone and the main difference
(other than the difference room sound) that I hear in the openings of your
two Brahms Sonatas is that your body is free and moving (in a helpful way)
with the music when standing. If you shut your eyes and listen to opening
phrases of the first movement on each track, it is a giant difference in how
musically you are playing, in favor of your playing while standing.

Best wishes, and feel free to email me off list if you want to continue this
conversation.

Margaret Thornhill
Los Angeles
http://www.margaretthornhill.com

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