Dressing Up To Make Music 101

Athletes, pianists and singers are all in the same boat; they use their bodies in every practice session, every rehearsal and every game or performance. Without the body, there is neither a game nor a performance. In both worlds of sport and physical training is primary and necessary so that the performer is prepared to respond to any given situation, in time, and through space. Strong, agile, and responsive muscles are indispensable to freeing the body to move from one point in space to another with agility and grace while remaining in complete control.

Therefore, it is imperative that this body, which carries us through our every day tasks and pleasures, that allows us to see, hear, touch, smell, taste, walk, run, and feel an array of physical and emotional sensations deserved only the best care and tender nurturing. The body needs good food, appropriate exercise, and at least eight hours of sound sleep. Growing adolescents require even more sleep due to the biochemical and physiological changes in the brain and body. It is so easy for the popular culture to deceive us into thinking that sleep is unnecessary and to some degree a waste of time.

However, singers cannot expect to gain control of the abdominal muscles, breath correctly, sustain an in tune pitch, and express themselves with artistry without sufficient sleep. Nor can pianists expect to articulate a phrase, sustain their concentration, and play with expression and beauty without adequate time allotted for the body to rejuvenate. Rest in the form of a good sound sleep is indispensable. Denying the body sufficient downtime is damaging to the brain, to the vital organs such as the heart and kidneys, and to the psyche. Low self-esteem, and even depression can be the result of poor sleep patterns. Attempting to take a music lesson or even go through a soccer practice, half asleep is torturous and even dangerous.

In addition, what students wear also plays a very important part at the lessons and in performance. We would not dare ask a basketball player to wear a sport coat and leather shoes or a football player to wear roller skates and shorts or a baseball player to wear a trench coat and flip-flops. Well, the musician has appropriate clothing at lessons and at performances as well. It is important that the clothing both fit the occasion and the place.

At a piano lesson, it is important to see the pianist’s hands, arms, spine, and feet. These four areas are essential to good posture, seating position, pedal work, and finger and hand technique. There are a mired of muscular reactions to every finger movement which being far up the forearm, arm and shoulder. Understanding how and when these muscles react is essential for good finger, hand, and forearm technique. Maintaining the correct curve of the lumbar spine and the proper placement of the shoulder girdle is vital to producing a high-quality tone, free of distortion and restraint. Placing the feet correctly over the pedals and on the floor is important for stability and balance and helps to produce a rich and full-bodied tone.

At a voice lesson, it is important to see the singer’s entire torso, back and front, the neck and jaw and the legs and feet; in other words just about everything. The neck, jaw, and tongue muscles work to articulate the words while the vocal folds and the entire skeleton vibrate to produce sound. The torso is essential because of the two diaphragms, the lungs, and the abdominal and perineum muscles it houses. Actually, there are three diaphragms in the body: the band of muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity; the band of muscles at the very bottom of the pelvic bowl; and the vocal folds in the larynx. Observing both the front and back of the torso while these three diaphragms work in consort is essential. The breath enters the lungs through the nasal cavity where warming and moisturizing the air takes place. As the lungs expand, they push down on the thoracic diaphragm expanding the abdominal cavity outward while pushing downward on the pelvic floor. As the breath exits the lungs, the perineum muscles and most of the abdominal muscles are engaged in order to control the rate of exhalation, which stabilizes the pitch and the quality of the tone. As all of this transpires, the feet stabilize the body and legs placed directly under the hips and in line with the shoulders so that the muscular and skeletal systems work in consort contract without obstruction.

Therefore, baggie shirts and tight wasted pants or skirts are not good for taking voice or piano lessons. The tight wasted clothing in performance is discouraged as well since good breathing for all performers is most necessary for calming the nerves. One important consideration often overlooked is the shoes. Both pianist and singer need good sensible shoes for performance. The pianist must have a shoe that allows close contact and a freedom of movement with the pedals. Large, thick souls and high hills are counterproductive. They raise the foot from the pedals and the floor and therefore distort the balance and disconnect the contact between pedals and foot. The same is true for the singer. High hills are especially detrimental. They distort the posture, contribute to a lack of balance, and separate the singer from the stabilizing attributes of the ground. As unbelievable as it may sound, good sensible shoes can make a performance comfortable, stable, and strong.

DRESSING UP TO MAKE MUSIC 101

By John R. Stevenson, D.J-D



	DRESSING UP TO MAKE MUSIC 101 By John R. Stevenson, D.J-D
	Athletes, pianists and singers are all in the same boat; they use their bodies in every practice session, every rehearsal and every game or performance. Without the body, there is neither a game nor a performance. In both worlds of sport and physical training is primary and necessary so that the performer is prepared to respond to any given situation, in time, and through space. Strong, agile, and responsive muscles are indispensable to freeing the body to move from one point in space to another with agility and grace while remaining in complete control. Therefore, it is imperative that this body, which carries us through our every day tasks and pleasures, that allows us to see, hear, touch, smell, taste, walk, run, and feel an array of physical and emotional sensations deserved only the best care and tender nurturing. The body needs good food, appropriate exercise, and at least eight hours of sound sleep. Growing adolescents require even more sleep due to the biochemical and physiological changes in the brain and body. It is so easy for the popular culture to deceive us into thinking that sleep is unnecessary and to some degree a waste of time. However, singers cannot expect to gain control of the abdominal muscles, breath correctly, sustain an in tune pitch, and express themselves with artistry without sufficient sleep. Nor can pianists expect to articulate a phrase, sustain their concentration, and play with expression and beauty without adequate time allotted for the body to rejuvenate. Rest in the form of a good sound sleep is indispensable. Denying the body sufficient downtime is damaging to the brain, to the vital organs such as the heart and kidneys, and to the psyche. Low self-esteem, and even depression can be the result of poor sleep patterns. Attempting to take a music lesson or even go through a soccer practice, half asleep is torturous and even dangerous. In addition, what students wear also plays a very important part at the lessons and in performance. We would not dare ask a basketball player to wear a sport coat and leather shoes or a football player to wear roller skates and shorts or a baseball player to wear a trench coat and flip-flops. Well, the musician has appropriate clothing at lessons and at performances as well. It is important that the clothing both fit the occasion and the place. At a piano lesson, it is important to see the pianist’s hands, arms, spine, and feet. These four areas are essential to good posture, seating position, pedal work, and finger and hand technique. There are a mired of muscular reactions to every finger movement which being far up the forearm, arm and shoulder. Understanding how and when these muscles react is essential for good finger, hand, and forearm technique. Maintaining the correct curve of the lumbar spine and the proper placement of the shoulder girdle is vital to producing a high-quality tone, free of distortion and restraint. Placing the feet correctly over the pedals and on the floor is important for stability and balance and helps to produce a rich and full-bodied tone. At a voice lesson, it is important to see the singer’s entire torso, back and front, the neck and jaw and the legs and feet; in other words just about everything. The neck, jaw, and tongue muscles work to articulate the words while the vocal folds and the entire skeleton vibrate to produce sound. The torso is essential because of the two diaphragms, the lungs, and the abdominal and perineum muscles it houses. Actually, there are three diaphragms in the body: the band of muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity; the band of muscles at the very bottom of the pelvic bowl; and the vocal folds in the larynx. Observing both the front and back of the torso while these three diaphragms work in consort is essential. The breath enters the lungs through the nasal cavity where warming and moisturizing the air takes place. As the lungs expand, they push down on the thoracic diaphragm expanding the abdominal cavity outward while pushing downward on the pelvic floor. As the breath exits the lungs, the perineum muscles and most of the abdominal muscles are engaged in order to control the rate of exhalation, which stabilizes the pitch and the quality of the tone. As all of this transpires, the feet stabilize the body and legs placed directly under the hips and in line with the shoulders so that the muscular and skeletal systems work in consort contract without obstruction. Therefore, baggie shirts and tight wasted pants or skirts are not good for taking voice or piano lessons. The tight wasted clothing in performance is discouraged as well since good breathing for all performers is most necessary for calming the nerves. One important consideration often overlooked is the shoes. Both pianist and singer need good sensible shoes for performance. The pianist must have a shoe that allows close contact and a freedom of movement with the pedals. Large, thick souls and high hills are counterproductive. They raise the foot from the pedals and the floor and therefore distort the balance and disconnect the contact between pedals and foot. The same is true for the singer. High hills are especially detrimental. They distort the posture, contribute to a lack of balance, and separate the singer from the stabilizing attributes of the ground. As unbelievable as it may sound, good sensible shoes can make a performance comfortable, stable, and strong.