Examining the pieces

I spent my early years practicing piano under the watchful eye of my great-grandfather in an oil painting hanging on the wall right behind my piano.  In the painting, my great-grandfather, a Flemish organist and composer, is holding a scroll of music and his hands have always fascinated me – maybe because of the similarity in the tiny details with my own hands.

I think I am not alone in my fascination with musicians’ hands.  The images and movements of fingers, hands and arms seem to define a musician.  How often, though, do we musicians limit our awareness to just a head and hands, completely blocking awareness of the rest of our body?  And if our body demands our attention, do we work with it, or do we simply numb it with a drug of choice?

I find the development of physical perception to be an interesting, ongoing journey – whether I am deepening my own awareness or helping others to develop theirs.  I am consistently intrigued by the connections I discover.  As I continue this blog I hope you will find some experiences and connections that resonate with you as well.  Your body offers an endless source of knowledge if you simply begin to listen to it.