Evoking the body
In contrast to conscious activities, our aim in this area is to strengthen the existing mechanisms that we do not consciously control in this way. But we can consciously evoke them, which is why we call it evoking. A key aspect in this context is activating the balance. As musicians, we need a particularly well-functioning balance. This concerns issues such as hearing, sound development, the execution of complex movements that are coordinated with each other and orientation in space.
Most important
Activating balance while practising
It is particularly effective to activate your balance directly during practising. Fortunately, this is relatively easy. You can do this without any helper by standing on just one leg at a time. The body is encouraged not to tip over and balances itself. However, it is far more comfortable with helpers. Basically all surfaces that are filled with air or have a movable surface, e.g. in the form of nubs, are suitable.However, there are a few things to consider:
- Everyone should always have the opportunity to get off such a surface, because at some point the body will tell you: ‘That's enough’.
- The perception of how much an underlay ‘wobbles’ varies from person to person. For some, everything sways when they stand on a studded rubber mat, while others don't notice anything. So the helper should also suit you.
- If underlays are used by several people, socks are recommended for hygienic reasons (including non-slip ones if necessary) and regular cleaning is important.
Activate balance while practicing