Should Pianists avoid expressive body movement?
To Move or not to move (at the piano)
Should we suppress any unnecessary physical movement at the piano?
This question has led to many heated discussions among pianists and piano teachers. I have been obsessed with finding the right answer to this difficult question for years. So, let's get into it.
Arthur Rubinstein versus Keith Jarrett
Arthur Rubinstein and Keith Jarrett are two famous and highly respected pianists who could not be further apart regarding how they physically express their emotions while playing the piano.
Some may argue that this is a bad comparison because Keith Jarrett is mostly known for his improvisational jazz and original music performances, whereas Arthur Rubinstein performed written-out masterpieces.
However, to me, musical style is not an indicator of why Arthur Rubinstein was sitting in his chair, hardly moving, while Keith Jarrett danced around the piano. There are plenty of examples (classical and jazz) for both types of players.
About Arthur Rubinstein
Many experts consider Arthur Rubinstein to be the ultimate role model for reducing body movement to the bare minimum when playing the piano. His focus seems to be entirely on preserving energy by only engaging those muscles that are essential for playing the piano in such a way that it produces the desired sound.
A piano technician once told me, no facial expression makes the hammer move any different.
On one hand, watching Rubinstein play the piano is very impressive, mainly because he makes everything look effortless. On the other hand, it is perplexing seeing him sitting so emotionless because it seems like he is not feeling the music, no matter how deeply emotional it sounds.
Just to be clear, Rubinstein was known to be a very warm, charming and fun person to be around.
About Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett, in contrast, literally dances during his performances while making all kinds of noises with his vocal cords, changing his facial expression with every phrase he plays. His entire body reflects his musical intention. You can feel the intensity of the music by just watching him. Despite the tremendous energy uses this way, it doesn't seem to have any negative influence on his playing. Every phrase is executed perfectly.
A teacher's dilemma
Now, who is to say which way is better?
Many piano teachers tell their students to take Rubinstein as their roll model when it comes to how to sit and move at the piano. Are they right?
How about those teachers who tell their students to hum along with the music, move their body in accordance to their musical phrasing, and reveal their emotions by changing facial expressions. Are those teachers right?
The reality is, that when we look at pictures and videos of some of the greatest performers in history, we find many differences in their body posture and the way they physically expressed themselves at the piano.
The answer is obviously not that simple, but it should be obvious that the old saying "one shoe doesn't fit all sizes" definitely applies here.
What history teaches us
Performance styles and piano techniques have come and gone. They have changed with every musical epoch, country, and region.
For example, expressive body movement was first promoted by pianists of the romantic era, when audiences focus shifted from being purely auditory to including more of the visual aspects of the performance.
We are all unique
Just as there are introverted and extroverted individuals, there are pianists who express themselves naturally, not only through the sounds they create. The truth is that restraining our bodies from expressing emotions through movement may work well for some but feel unnatural for others. This difference is simply a matter of personality traits.
My advice to pianists
Whatever kind of person you are, the trick is not to let physical expression interfere with your playing apparatus and musical intention.
Finding the right balance for you has to be the goal here.
Here are a few examples from the jazz world
Oscar Peterson always tapped the beat with his feet, but the rest of his body was completely quiet.
Count Basie, one of the greatest swing pianists, looked like he was about ready to go to bed when playing some of the hottest jazz music imaginable.
So, again, every person is different.
Conclusion
Do what ever comes natural to you. Just make sure it doesn't interfere with the music.
Tip
Pay attention to yourself while practicing and performing. Ask yourself this question: Do my expressive body movements help me with playing better or not?
My advice to piano teachers
Considering all of the above, the best advice I can give a teacher regarding this topic is to carefully assess the cause of a student's body movement and whether it affects them negatively.
When your student's movements and facial expressions look natural and do not get in the way of the music, telling the student to sit still instead would be a crime. It could actually break the student's natural ability to incorporate natural body movement evoked by the music. In other words, you ask your student to be someone else, which can have horrendous consequences for such a pianist's development. It's like teaching an extroverted story teller to sit still and not move their hands.
When a student's body movements lead to unnecessary tension and prevent them from executing the music properly, it is important to make the student aware of this issue gently. However, remember that just because a student's movements may seem unusual to you does not justify correcting them.
A great teacher knows that every student is different, physically and mentally. There are of course certain concepts that every piano student should be taught. But there are also many things that need to be left up to the student, especially when it comes to body movement.
More often than not, we need to stay out of the way rather than trying to mold our students after our own image.
We should allow our students to do things differently, to break conventions, to find their own way that allows them to do their best job, and this includes physical expression.
Advice from a master
Chick Corea, one of the greatest pianists ever, once said something that sums it all up:
"Those who strictly follow all the rules, are those no one will ever hear about".
What do you think about this?
What is your opinion on this topic. Please leave a comment below. And please keep the discussion civilized!