ReCentering for Sports and Sanity - 5 - Playing From Your Elbows

ReCentering for Sports and Sanity - 5 - Playing From Your Elbows

Adapted from “Classical Mechanics - Playing with The Elbows” Lesson by Andrew Gibbons, GCFP

Proximal and Distal = Centered and Distant = Spine and Fingers and Toes

For Moshe, this relationship between center and outer edge was important and reciprocal. The power to move the extremities comes most effectively from the center. The extremities can serve as lever to bring attention to the core.

This lesson, developed (as far as I know) by former concert pianist and ATM teacher Andrew Gibbons novelly exploits the proximal/distal relationship to bring attention to the core. He does it by ‘halving” the arms. With the hands draped over the same side shoulder, the elbow becomes the tip of the arm, and all the movements of the arms require intense involvement of the back, shoulder blades, sternum and ribs. In other words, ReCentering.

Andrew developed this lesson for classical pianists so focused on their fingers that they forget about the rest of the body. The lesson guides students to rock on the sit bones to approach the keyboard, to rotate the torso to align with the direction of motion, and engage the spine and shoulder blades consciously.

Nothing really new, but every variation presents possible insights. Most useful might be the ‘No! I won’t do that again!” moments of awkward posture.

Set Up:

• Sitting on floor OR on a firm-bottom chair with knees and hips level - use a rolled blanket under feet or hips to level

• OPTIONAL - Place a table about elbow height just in front of you. At several points during the lesson, we reach forward with elbows; it might be helpful to have a surface to reach towards and touch.

Geteye Abebaw, Ethiopia, plays piano w elbows source: https:::www.ezega.com

The Voice-O-Meter sounds this week, chosen for their connection to corners:

• Lung Sound - SSSSSSSSSSSS - the sound of wind in dried leaves - releasing grief and making space for courage

• Kidney Sound - CHOOOOOO - the sound of breath echoing through a long tube - forcing out cold, fearful energy and making space for gentleness and generosity

• Triple Warmer - HEEEEEEEE - integrating the centerline with the entire body

How You Might Feel After This Lesson: Aware of how the ‘elbows’ relate to the center line and how to better balance left/right, front/back; Tuned into the shoulders and back drive and allow softness in the hands; Connected from arms to entire torso; Clear on how to find length downt he entire spine; Ribs open and flexible; Breath deep and wide; Arms resting easily in shoulder sockets; Shoulder girdle - shoulder blades, clavicles - resting comfortably over upper ribs; Torso supported by pelvis, chest free to adjust as needed; Ready for arpeggios and emotive musicianship, more powerful in the boat or water, even on skis and on the green.

BY ZOOM New Students: Register here