Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-12-24 15:39
Paul:
You're equating physical involvement with tension and assuming I would advocate things that I would not, such as isometrics while playing. I know it's easy to conjure up images of training montages from films where a character is doing all sorts of crazy things while performing their sport, activity, or whatever, but that's not what I'm going for... that's what I would describe as gimmicky.
What I'm aiming for is a more effective use of the body when it's called for. Improvement of reflexes. Freedom of motion. Postural correction. Ability to physically "bring it" when necessary. Relaxation through treating the body as an ally, not an adversary.
Check out an athlete as they're about to sprint. They're at alert, at the ready to go full blast, focused. At the same time, they're not tensing up every muscle in their body, rather they're loose and relaxed. Then they bring it, then they relax afterwards.
Playing like you don't care is a step toward relaxation, and can be helpful especially for particularly tense performers. However, it can also lead to *sounding* like you don't care, creating a disconnect where you can only play effectively when you don't care. I was in this space for years, and it was a huge barrier to me musically (I could either care and screw up, or not care and sound blah). Embracing the physical process of playing the clarinet has been effective for me in breaking through that, to where an opportunity to play music is an adventure to delight in head-on.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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