Posture, hand position/grip and freedom of movement
- Play with ease control and fluency of the body:
- using an appropriate and functional posture
- Play with ease and control of the hands:
- maintaining an appropriate grip when playing with sticks/mallets and foot technique for the style of the music, with relaxed wrists, arms and shoulders
- further developing personalisation of grip when playing with sticks/mallets
- further developing instrument-specific independent movement of hands
- Maintain an appropriate and functional four-mallet grip for tuned percussion
Continue to emphasise the importance of good posture and freedom of movement.
Some learners with poor posture and/or tension problems find relaxation methods useful, e.g. yoga, Alexander Technique.
When playing with sticks/mallets, encourage learners to experiment with different grips and wrist actions to produce the most appropriate sound, e.g. use of back three fingers to control the sticks when playing soft timpani rolls/ride patterns, etc. Ask them to discuss and justify their decisions.
Ask learners to devise their own checklist of the main sources of tension. Discuss how tension can be alleviated.
Continue to encourage positive body language when performing.
It is important to consider facial expression.
Encourage learners to attend a wide range of live performances where possible, and/or watch live performances online.
Encourage learners to use imagery in order to convey the character and mood of the music. Discuss how posture may contribute towards communication.
Provide opportunities for learners to observe how others communicate in performance, e.g. masterclasses, concerts.
Encourage learners to attend a wide range of live performances where possible.
Help learners to use their posture to communicate musical intention, e.g. beginning and/or changing tempo in an ensemble.
Discuss ways in which learners can develop the physical and mental stamina required to play longer, more demanding pieces.
Explore the progression of this Learning Objective
Continue exploring the current Programme of Study
