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"The interactive joining of minds in the partner groups greatly increases the speed of learning." "Before I encountered the Taubman approach, everything was about pushing and 'efforting.' Now it's about letting things flow and getting out of my own way. I've learned that I don't need to create an artifice of myself, that my self will do just fine." "I feel more interested in pursuing playing again than I have in a very long time." anonymous evaluations  After this particular lunch, we talked about how to write in a healthy way. During other meals, we had scheduled and unscheduled discussions about The Taubman Techniques videos, about mental attitude in practice and performance, and about our various journeys: "The feeling of community was also very special--there was nothing put on here, it was all so genuinely supportive and amicable." "Meeting and talking with and hearing people talk about the realities of their own journeys was very helpful to me." "The atmosphere was wonderful. The people were easy to get along with. The food was tasty. I could go on and on. I would highly recommend it to anyone who was interested." anonymous evaluations  Games are excellent teaching tools! Here, we are playing "patty-cake". |
Process
Poems We asked our 2008 participants to write poems during the course of their programs that would help them both remain lighthearted and be mindful of their process, their immediate goals for making changes during the program. The results were so brilliant, full of wisdom and whimsy, that we are sharing them here with you! A few of these are also by instructors, but because we are SO concerned about anonymity, we aren't saying which ones (this should in no way be interpreted to mean that we are insecure about our poetic prowess). I hope you enjoy reading these as much as we enjoyed writing them! Be Aware. Let's go, Align. Never Collapse! Everytime. A Neophyte Balanced Pianist - A work in progress My head is spinning My brain will explode All this knowledge Is too much to hold. I make it so hard I get all out of breath My body has drama But my music lacks depth. Where is my head? Are my shoulders relaxed? Am I sitting securely On the bones of my ass? And so I back up I swallow my pride Preconceived notions I must put aside. Not to mention my bench -- Is it at the right height? Because if it's too low It will never sound right. I step back and give up The goal of perfection And live in the moment of quiet reflection. "Right" -- there's a word I can no longer use Now "better is better" -- No more self abuse! I let go and listen To the music I make My shoulders are easy My knees do not quake. And slowly the piano and I become one For the first time in a long time, I'm having fun. (To the tune of "I'm as corny as Kansas in August") The key is as flat as a sidewalk in Kansas, So said Terry to Sam by and by, No need to feel, It will tilt to the heel of your hand or fall down to your thigh. Think of your wrist as you move left and then right, Don't let it lead you to the next part, Stay in the mid-range, Oh, don't let that ever change and you will play great Mozart. Mary Ellen was playing with passion, Suddenly Terry took her aside, Here's a story To keep you from worry When ever you play thumb to 5: "As the plane flies over the plateau, Down go the care parcels one at a time, But, the wing tips Never, ever slip Out of their horizontal line." Now I need to finish the story, As we prepare to go our own ways, Susan and Terry You've made us so merry, And given us so much each day! "Staccato goes down!" Cries the whole Taubman town These three words together are gold. Don't try to pull up, or you'll drown in swamp muck, for ever stuck in the cold. One Hand Two Hands Curled Hand Bad Hand Claw Hand Limp Hand Natural Hand Good Hand This hand likes to clutch and grab This hand likes to look quite sad Say, what a lot of hands there are The toned ones are the best by far Somewhere in between the aligned and the misaligned... heart, mind, and body slip into one piece, resting gently in surrender to a better place. One day as I paddled through the swamp Terry said to me, "Stop thinking so much -- you're forcing and fussing, just try to let it be." "No need to judge, just open your mind, and you will slowly see that playing the piano really can feel easy, fun, and free!" Yes, we can Yes, we can We can make changes Yes, we can. Balance on seat Feet on floor Elbows down With Terry and Susan We can make changes Yes, we can! "The Cactus Pose" I can do it on the wall I can do it standing tall I can do it in the air I can do it everywhere! I can do it while I eat I can do it on the street Oh! The cactus pose, The cactus pose! You are indeed my favorite pose. If your shoulders feel small, Just line up against the wall! Negroclavierphobia is the disease that makes fingers curl away from black keys But if you'll just change the angle, and the fulcrum of dangle you'll find that they fit in with ease. My bench is too high, My bench is too low, Where oh where should my bench go? Oh the pieces you'll play if you only do it our way; Raise your wrist, uncurl your fingers, Relax your shoulders and avoid the dingers; We'll help you make the most of your talents By teaching you to play in balance! "Oh, yes!" said my partner "Oh, yes!" said my teacher You're really getting there! You don't need to hover way up in the air! Just rest down your arm And now you agree Your forearm is held Right up by the key! "Oh, yes!" said my partner "Oh, yes said my teacher You're really getting it! You don't need to push Not one little itty bit! Just rest down that forearm And now you agree You magically land At the bottom of the key! The piano beckons, " Play down!" one reckons, When I start to approach, " Rotate more!" I hear someone reproach. * * The piano Cajoles, "Go in!" , it entices all souls, Then I begin to play, " Stay out!" I hear someone say. * * The piano allures, "Tap on the keys," it quietly purrs, And after I finish the song, "Thank you for playing"I hear someone amidst the admiring throng. I AM GREENE Dr. Greene Sports psychologist on the music scene CENTER UP, CENTER DOWN, It's the greatest game in town. Do your best when pressure's high, Easy to do, Give it a try! You can center anywhere Best to start off in a chair. Find your focus, set an intention Breathe in, breathe out, release all your tension. Find your center, find your core, Visualize your BEST, nothing less, nothing more. Open your eyes, find your point of focus, Now you're centered, and that's not Hocus Pocus! I can center on a yacht, I can center on the spot. I can center in a rage, I can center on the stage! I've got to go, 'cause now I'm on, Thank you, thank you, Dr. Don! Sweet tea, chopsticks, Soy sauce, toothpicks, Band-aids, thumb splints, Wounded walking, walking wounded. IDGAC* Oh, how IDGAC! Perfectionists indeed, People in need. Living in dorms, No smoking weed. Knit Pickers Write Looking for a fight. They're so uptight Oh how IDGAC. Black foam puzzle pieces, Wedge-shaped pillows. Parking lot labyrinths, Walks among the willows. Hot today Chile tomole Unbalanced pianist What a finale. -- IDGAC *I Don't Give a Crap, the name the mindset group that was NOT the perfectionists gave itself in Colorado (editorial note) For a long time I thought That my future was set. Certain songs shouldn't be bought Or so I thought in my head. But then I discovered my potential was great. Susan said, "Why limit yourself?" And I soon took the bait. Rhapsody in Blue could be played with some help. And now that I'm learning my favorite piece I'm happy and balanced To say the least. :) Roses are red Drywall is spackled Come to Balanced Pianist To refresh your Block and Tackle Bottom to Bottom to Bottom I go As the music begins to flow If at first intimidated Mindsets soon are abated. Now not only must I try to use my arms with ease, but also my feet, my back, And my knees. Oh me, oh my, and what if I sneeze? Left brain, right brain, left brain, right. Try as I may and try as I might I just can't seem to get it right. But wait, you say, it matters not Which part of my brain produces a thought, Not that I really could keep track, It's simply an effort that's all for naught. Trying is hard as hard can be, and the funny thing is that the harder you try, the hardest it gets to see Just what the point of Trying could be. Less is more, more is less No big movements in excess Just go down in a singe place, Find the 'no big deal' spot when in haste. Invite your elbow to be in front of you. This all seems so easy to do. When in the key be alert, In that way you won't get hurt. Resting is like a cat ready to pounce And in that way you find your balance. Follow through with your arm to the point of sound, Keep your feet and pelvis towards the ground, Ride the keys, break the resistance And in that way, you go the distance. Have the wit, Dig yourself out of the pit! Make the putt and you'll be real smooth "Out of the rut, into the groove" Release the tension Like you made pension Watch your alignment Or you'll reach confinement Relax your muscles Will make you bustle Keep your head up So you'll get the Cup When a musician plays a scale on a newly cleaned piano, He goes from C to shining C! If you get the pun You've had some real fun! Summertime! And the learnin' is easy Ideas are jumpin' and Solutions are high. Your technique is rich And your hands are Good-Lookin' with Terry and Susan and Judy all STANDIN' BY One a these mornin's you gonna wake up swimmin' In the SWAMP you'll be gettin' all WET. If that should happen... you'll go right to your toolbox For one of those great ideas you came so far to get! Well one a' these mornin's We're gonna rise up playin' We'll say "THAT'S IT" and RISE UP TO THE SKY And 'til that mornin' we'll keep on gently walkin' with SUSAN & TERRY & JUDYall standin' by..... A nocturne by Chopin is nice, As long as you heed this advice, Remember to feel How light is the heel Of your hand and you'll always entice. A lady whose thumb liked to wipe The keys with a definite swipe Now lands nice and long And plays the whole song Without having reason to gripe. White key, black key Open hand Be a little playful Thumb can stand Lunches, dinners, room keys, phone- Put it all aside, and Center down. Find my best route to the key Be direct and let it be! There once was a man from Nantucket Who played while sitting on a bucket He would hang from the keys with no sense of ease Until he met Terry from Setauket And finally, two poems from our eager German-practicers: Alles muss das Gleich sein besonders mit dem Klavier. Als ob man zu fuss geht Aber mit den Arm und Fingern. (Every thing must be balanced especially with the piano as if one is walking but with the arm and fingers.) Und hier bin ich, die letzte, die etwas schreiben muss Und das werde ich jetzte sagen, dem Klavier mit dem Handen spielen, und nicht mit dem Fuss! (I am assured a Real Translation is coming. In the meantime, I'll just tell you this goes something like: And here I am, last And have to write Something, And that is that the piano is played with the hand And not with the foot!) |