JAVS Spring 2001

25

T'HE BASICS REVISITED: ARTISTIC l)ISTINCTIONS YouR PRIMARY INs I'RUMI'N r: You AND YouR BonY

by Heidi Castleman

Editor's note: The following represents part one ofa series originally developed for use over the course ofeight weeks by Ms. Castleman at Aspen Music Festival. Watch for additional installments in foture issues ofJAVS.

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"Think with your heart; andfeel with your brain. "- George Szell

Musical imagination demands shadings in tone, inflection, and vibrato. These skills are easily available when basic skills are healthy and the ear leads the hands. The goal of this technique course is to address the areas of vibrato flexibility (controlling width and speed); ballistic strokes as key to musical articulation; ease and consistency at the frog and tip of the bow; sustained, cantabile playing; and hearing sound in layers. Musical examples are provided for integration of the ideas presented. Before setting out, an examination of the primary instrument, the body, is in order.

YOUR PRIMARY INSTRUMENT: You AND YOUR BODY A REFERENCE GUIDE

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Good Posture and Body Balance Good posture and body balance are essential foundations for making music effortlessly. Use the following list to evaluate posture and body balance: While Standing • Align the body vertically. In a relaxed manner, stack the knees, hips, rib cage, shoulders, • The torso is planted on the hips. Try to balance the center of gravity low, both standing and kneeling. When gently pushed, the body should return to the center of gravity instead of losing balance. • All joints are flexible and loose. This allows for utilization ofweight instead of pressure. • Shoulders are open, hanging down, and back. Feel flexibility in the shoulder blades as they move around the rib cage. • The rib cage expands. Keep the ste~num up. • Breathing is from the diaphragm. Feel how it expands and relaxes. • The joint where the head and neck meet is loose. Allow the head to sit above the spine with the forehead level. While Sitting • Alignment is generally the same as while standing, but aligned over the tailbone. • Establish good balance between "sitz-bones" and feet. Feet should have good contact with the floor and have enough power in the legs to enable one to spring up from the chair. and head vertically above the arches in the feet. • Feet should feel planted with the legs relaxed.