What Every Pianist
Needs to Know
about the Body
with supplemental material for organists
Thomas Mark with Roberta Gary
and Thom Miles
Author Thomas Mark, in the Introduction of the book, simply states, This is a book about how we move our bodies to play the piano.
Based on the concepts of Body Mapping by Barbara Conable and William Conable, What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body, takes a closer look at the needs of players of keyboard instruments whether piano, organ, harpsichord, clavichord, or digital keyboard. The text is based on a solid foundation of clinical work with keyboard players around the world.
The goal is to help keyboard musicians better understand the use of their bodies while playing. Anatomical facts, dozens of detailed illustrations, and excellent commentary by the author offer incredible insight into body mapping. These concepts are sure to bring about improved bodily awareness, a better quality of movement, and better, freer playing in general. The information provided in this book may also enable readers to avoid or cure injury without traditional medical treatments.
Also included in this volume is a section entitled "What Every Organist Needs to Know about the Body." Roberta Gary and Thom Miles, authors of this piece, address the special needs of organists, concentrating on the use of feet, legs, and hips as well as the arms and hands.
The principles in this book have the power to transform a keyboard musicians playing by helping to generate free, efficient movement, and allowing technique and talent to shine!
The Best Book on the Market in Its Field
"This is simply the best book presently on the market for understanding and acquiring the principles of healthful, injury-preventive keyboard technique. Although nothing substitutes for hands-on training with a knowledgeable teacher, this book will be remarkably helpful to the injured or inquiring keyboardist. It is clear, succinct, and written in accessible, non-tedious language. Informative illustrations abound. The emphasis on technique as a coordination of the whole body with the instrument and the sound biomechanical information throughout are a welcomed relief from the hundreds of historically confusing and dense writings on technique. Technique is a highly complex, subtle physical activity which must be learned by understanding and sensing how the body mechanism works best. Thomas Mark and supplementary authors Gary and Miles, supported by the superb work of Barbara and Bill Conable in Body Mapping and Alexander Technique, have made a truly laudable contribution to the keyboard profession with this book."
Reviewer: Barbara Lister-Sink
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What Every Pianist Needs to Know
about the Body: Video Companion
Thomas Mark
In this video companion to the book What Every Pianist Needs to Know about the Body, Thomas Mark describes and demonstrates the places of balance, standing and sitting in balance, structure and movement of the hands and arms, and other topics. Readers of the book who watch the video, follow the demonstrations, and imitate the movements will learn actually to experience the material, as if in a lesson with Thomas Mark. The video will help students to develop improved body awareness and a better quality of movement. Teachers will gain insight into common problems and how to correct them.
Movement based on an accurate and adequate body map can transform a pianists playing while guaranteeing freedom from injury. The basic anatomical information needed by pianists, which is presented in the book What Every Pianist Needs to Know about the Body, comes to life in this video.
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The Authors:
Thomas Mark teaches piano and Body Mapping in Portland, Oregon and offers the course "What Every Pianist Needs to Know about the Body" throughout the United States and Canada. His Web site is www.pianomap.com.
Roberta Gary is Professor of Organ and Head of the Keyboard Division at the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati.
Thom Miles is Director of Music at Issac M. Wise Temple and Assistant Organists at Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati.
Barbara Conable is founder of Andover Educators (www.bodymap.org) and adjunct faculty at Portland State University in the Coordinate Movement Program for Pianists.