Intro to Body Mapping
Body Mapping answers the question of “how” we make music. How do we create sound, shape the embouchure, change dynamics, articulation, move the arm with support? All of these things are created by movement. The even better news is we can refine movement to uncover just the right movements needed to create the expression we imagine. Learning to move with precision and efficiency expands the expressive palate as it contributes to performing health & confidence.
Body maps in the brain guide all movement. When the maps are accurate, meaning they represent our body’s actual structure, function, and size movement is fluid and natural. When a map is inaccurate, it differs from the body’s true design, even just a little, movement becomes impaired. An example of an inaccurate body map is thinking that the finger is the length from fingertip to top of the palm. Believing this consciously or unconsciously limits finger movement because the palm is braced to prevent ir from moving, it is not in the body map. This inhibits finger motion, and the tension of bracing resonates through the soft tissue tightening other areas of the body. You can get an idea of this if you make a fist with one hand and gradually tighten it. Notice how the work of tightening the fist affects the rest of the arm, the back, maybe you feel it in the legs. Tension travels!
Utilizing Body Mapping allows us to overcome musical challenges by clarifying our understanding of the movements required. This can be applied to any facet of playing from sound to breathing to technique. Examining playing from a movement perspective additionally reveals that how we walk on stage, deliver the instrument to the body or hands to the instrument influences the way we move throughout a performance.
Inquiring “how” we make a sound, move or create an articulation is uncovers black holes in your understanding of playing. For instance, “how do you create a forte dynamic?” Can you answer this question clearly? What contributes to creating the forte? If your answer is to blow more air, how do you physically do this? Knowing the answers to these questions allows us to truly overcome a playing challenge. Abstract answers leave us wondering, guessing, shooting in the dark to bring musical ideas to life.
Stay tuned for more…
Want to dive into Body Mapping in your playing? Join Drew Ricciardi and I August 9, 13 & 15th to explore movement in your playing. This is Body Mapping +, as Drew brings in his amazing movement work @themonkeybody. Space is limited but our ideas on how to take your playing to a whole new level are not! Join us!