Tai Chi And Piano Playling

Hi, I've read so many good things about Tai Chi and its effects on human well being and health. Having some problems (like stiff shoulders) I've been seriously thinking about Tai Chi as my new way of physical training. Because Alan has a very long history with Tai Chi, I'd like to know if there are some special benefits for piano playing. Does this slow, focused and relaxed movement somehow help piano playing? I am quite sure that this ancient martial art is beneficial for a western mind, which is too busy all the time... br, P

Hi again, I found an earlier thread about that subject: So I take that as a "yes" to my question, it's beneficial Also in the DVD Alan talks about "Tai Chi walking at the piano" which is about slow, flowing, grounded transfer of weight from one finger to another. Idea is to find a movement that is continuous, controlled and stable and there's no collapse anywhere. Any other ideas or is this basically it?

I'll see if I can get Alan to record a series for PianoTechnique.org. "Tai Chi and the Piano" Would you watch something like that?

I'll see if I can get Alan to record a series for PianoTechnique.org. "Tai Chi and the Piano" Would you watch something like that? That would be VERY interesting! P.S. I am quite sure that there are lot pianists who would need a special sports to balance the physical and mental stress which is caused by their instrument. After my own little research I cannot see much better than Tai Chi (well, at least on paper). It deals with effortless, fluent movement, mental focus and relaxation and deep synchronized breathing. Aren't all those very important aspects of piano playing in general?

Tai Chi/martial arts sound good on paper but if you don't have somebody to guide you then it could be a pain. I know Alan did 4 years of Feldy training in Hawaii. Lifting weights, long walks, podcasts and audio books do the trick for me. I think Alan would be down to record a series, it's just the matter of time. Will work on it!

I am a Feldenkrais practicioner of 25 years' standing but a Tai Chi artist for over 35 years. I remember my teacher Laurie Milkman telling me, after a performance of Debussy Images Book I, that I wasn't playing the piano but doing Tai Chi at the piano. She meant it as a compliment. I brought the flowing arm movements of the form to Debussy and it worked, the Impressionistic textures had a real glow to them. A lot of what I write derives directly from the teaching of Sam Slutsky, my Tai Chi teacher of long standing, and Master Lee Shiu Pak's main descendant. All the similarities are way to much to put into a post here; suffice it to say that my Tai Chi practice is intimately related to my piano practice and still informs many of the new developments I am now bringing about. Thanks for the question. As for a video series; it's a great idea, but I would have to put some thought into the content. Perhaps some questions from you guys could help me formulate a plan? AFF

Hi and Thanks for replies! Here are some possible ideas to develop further (here or perhaps in video series): Most of us are taught to sit straight and shoulders down and relaxed. In my opinion quite often this does not happen in very deep level. When music gets difficult or we get stressed, we tend to loose our relaxation and correct posture. With Tai Chi practise we may learn more deeply how it is to really be in good posture and relaxation. It's something you need to focus very carefully and take time to really learn it. If I have understood right, Tai Chi is very much about turning our attention to our body and also to parts of it that aren't normally very much in our awareness. In this respect it comes close to Feldenkrais' ideas, right? In our practising we pianists tend to focus our hands and fingers (fine motor skills) and lack similar understanding of larger movements of our body (gross motor skills). Well, this is at least my own case: I have turned to these aspects of playing quite recently, way too late I am afraid. Tai Chi might give us a form and practise routine to concentrate to these larger movements and I believe it's also good to learn these things without piano (and then try to integrate them to playing as well). Like said earlier, it's quite normal to get stressed, tightened when music gets faster or more difficult. In my opinion it's at least partly because we tend to loose our relaxed breathing. Tai Chi integrates breathing to movement and might give us tools for developing more deep and continuing breathing. First we must learn how to breath, tend integrate it to movement and internalise whole process. Finally, Tai Chi practise might be a good (or even best) way to counterbalance mental or physical stress which is caused by piano playing. It's gentle but very focused and involves the whole body-mind. If piano playing is ? To sum my view, these aspects are all something we probably already know to be important. But are we really deeply learned them and integrated to our playing? In my own case, there's a lot to learn for sure. Personally I am searching a new way to learn these aspects and yet so far Tai Chi looks the most promising (well, Feldenkrais looks too but it's not possible to have courses here where I live). With some simple Qigong exercises I think I have allready made some progress. To me these Tai Chi mental images like "pouring water from a cup to another" representing weigth transfer from a leg to another are very effective in learning process. From Alan and his 35 years (!) Tai Chi experience I'd really like to hear anything which deepens these ideas and relates to piano playing. Are there some special Tai Chi exercises beneficial for a piano player? thx, P

I think all of your points are really great and so, so true. Wonderful insights. However, you've already said it! How am I now going to make a whole series of videos to say what you just said in a few small paragraphs? Many movements in Tai Chi relate directly to piano, but more important, it is the background philosophy that matters. Move from your center. Let the bones do the work. The aignment of the bones is everything. So, I will decline your request but I will offer you a counter-request: go through my four books with a fine-tooth comb, and find every point at which you can detect, "Ah, that's an idea from Tai Chi that he's using at the piano." You will find a lot. AFF PS I know my fourth book isn't finished yet, but by the time you get through the first three, it should be out.

What if we made a series on Feldenkrais and piano? I don't think something like this has been done before? Thoughts?

All my books and my DVD are about Feldenkrais and piano... It is completely ingrained in everything I do... Take a look at some of my videos from the Vussem series, perhaps you'll find something in there a little more specific.