Look Like a Rock God(dess)
Musicians: Look better. Play better. Be happier.
I have a friend who plays fiddle who has the most amazing posture.
No matter what he’s doing, he always walks like a god, smiling and tall and looking at the world as if he made it, and he’s happy with what he made. And when he plays, he looks like that, too.
If you’re a musician, it’s really important to play with good posture.
That’s not just because it looks good to other people. You actually play better when you have good posture.
Try Playing with Good Posture
Instead of hunching over, sit with your instrument with good posture. Sit up, with your spine long and your shoulder blades relaxing back over your back body.
Feel your chest open. Feel how much easier it is to breathe deeply. Even if you’re not a flute player or a singer, being able to breathe easily while you play helps you be more relaxed, responsive, and able to listen.
The other big thing that happens when you have better posture is that you can now use more of the bigger muscles of your back to support your arms and to hold you up, instead of the smaller muscles in the front of your shoulder.
You’ll get less tired and be less prone to injury, and you’ll probably enjoy playing more.
Playing with good posture is a habit. Like so much of practicing music, changing a habit takes persistent attention, some humility and even a bit of humor.
Why not start today to play with better posture?
My book, Best Practice: Inspiration and Ideas for Traditional Musicians, is full of ideas to help you improve more quickly and play with more joy.
It’s written for any musician, playing any instrument, in any genre at any experience or skill level.
Here are a few chapters in Best Practice where you’ll find more about using your posture to play better:
35 — Posture
66 — M Is for Mindfulness Practice
57—Recovering
174—Relaxed Hands
Appendix D — Four Basic Principles
94 — Head and Neck Position
Judy Minot is a musician, teacher, and the author of the book Best Practice: Inspiration and Ideas for Traditional Musicians.
Judy has played and practiced piano since she could reach the keys, training in classical playing until age 16. She now plays traditional music in various settings on a number of instruments, and gives workshops and classes on Best Practice ideas all over the world, both virtually and in person.
Judy spent her working life in broadcast television and digital marketing. She holds a 4th degree black belt in the martial art of Kokikai Aikido and is a certified yoga teacher.
For more information visit: www.judyminot.com/bestpractice
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