Arts Impact the Body (column for Iron County Today)

 Arts Impact the Body

by Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President

The physical benefits of music and dancing are significant. Playing the violin for one hour is equivalent to walking two miles. Dancing has even more of a physical impact, with one hour of dancing being equivalent to three or four miles of moderate walking. Obviously, the intensity of the music impacts the physical effort.

String teachers talk about balancing the violin to avoid neck and shoulder strain.  The violin becomes an extension of the body and voice.  Even the most accomplished soprano has an upper limit, but the violin rests on the vocal cords and can create pitches much higher than the human voice. The cello rests near the heart and can extend the lower range. 

There are also emotional demands.  When James Harrison conducted the Orchestra of Southern Utah, he said, "If you are not exhausted after a Beethoven symphony, you haven't given enough."

There is research on the brain's engagement with music. Listening to music helps light up many different parts of the brain. Playing an instrument is even more significant. Nearly all regions of the brain become activated. This is why learning an instrument is helpful to all ages for developing listening, memory, and thinking skills.

It takes physical stamina to play an instrument, dance, or be in a play.  Handel's Messiah is a marathon, even though we only play a portion of the music. Even some of the younger musicians have back soreness and emotional exhaustion. 

The trick is to be aware when the muscles tense up and learn to relax as much as possible to avoid injury. Maintaining balance in the body, rather than powering through, can reduce physical stress.

Hands are a special consideration because a tight bow hold or grabbing the instrument with the left hand can also cause injury. I have my students make a fist and then relax so they know what a relaxed hand feels like.  Lift the shoulders and relax to release neck tension. The violinist Yehudi Menuhin recommended yoga to keep flexibility.  A stretching routine is valuable for musicians just as it is for athletes.  Indeed, musicians are athletes because the body is essential to creating music. 

Remembering to breathe in the tricky bits is also helpful.  It is common to hold the breath when challenged, but that can create unhelpful tension. 

When you attend a performance, you can observe how the musician, actor, or dancer depends on a healthy body to create their art. And as an audience member, your breathing and heart rate responds to what happens on the stage. That feeling is part of what makes live performance more exicting than a recording.

As performers, we have to remember to treat our bodies with respect. As an audience member, we can be awed by the physical challenges and dexterity that are required to create live performances.