The Joy of Dancing Grey Cells
OK, let’s get back to one of your favorite exercises in personal sovereignty, playing the violin.
As I reported to you some time ago, I’ve been investing some energy into combining my live performance on the violin with choreography on my unicycle. It’s been eye-opening to such an extent I think you should know about it.
It’s all about making connections.
Some of the connections are physical. They challenge my ability to coordinate the movements of virtually all my extremities – with one exception – in a new and provocative way. My mind, and a few bones, too, I might add, sometimes aches with the effort.
Yet there are other connections that have emerged as well.
In the process of doing this my sense of the link between dance and music has become much more informed. I mean, coming to terms with the elements of dance and the elements of playing are two very different sides of the same coin.
Yet getting to know both sides of the coin in such a direct way has given me a thrilling insight into ‘coin-ness’ itself.
It’s that common fountainhead shared by both music and dance; the use of time to transcend time.
Now, you don’t have to play your violin on a unicycle to experience this. I DO recommend, and I may be putting out a new course on the practice, that you get up and move your feet during a portion of every practice.
And while you do, don’t forget to count. Counting is how we keep score over what we do ‘in time.’ Once you can play, count and move your feet try playing, counting and moving your Weight. After that, you’re ready to pay attention to cadence, gait, and lilt.
Once you do That, whilst playing ‘in tune’ and all the rest, you are ready for prime time with the best of them.
Now, in a few days I’ll be starting to film month 8 of the ‘Allegro Players’ course. And you can bet that I’ll be gently stretching folks in a whole new way, based on what I just said.
Not to worry, though, even if you’re confined to a wheel chair you’ll find yourself setting grey cells in motion like never before. Here’s how you can get on board as Violin Mastery’s great musical adventure continues.
All the best,
Clayton Haslop
P.S. The ‘Allegro Players’ represents the second year of my monthly instructional DVD programs. Year one, my Beginners Circle, takes you from ‘out-of-the-box for the first time’ to the point you really ‘get’ what violin playing is all about.
