Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
A common issue I've found in many brass players, especially younger ones is
an artificial raising of the shoulders while they're playing.
There are normally two causes for this.
For some, it's due to incorrect breathing
and for others it's due to simply tension.
For those who do as part of the breathing
I recommend you see my video regarding the role ribs play in breathing
and how to help students fix that.
Players who raise their shoulders without a breathing issue
exhibit a problem with what's called their humeroscapular rhythm.
Humeroscapular rhythm
is the coordinated movement
of the upper arm (the humerus)
and the shoulder blade (or the scapula).
These should move
in tandem
in a relaxed manner.
By raising their shoulders,
they're working harder and increasing tension without any gain whatsoever.
On the contrary, it will actually prove, generally, to be very detrimental to their playing.
However, it is a fairly simple issue to fix.
First,
have them play as they normally would.
Get them to feel the tension and feel the tightness in their shoulders.
The next step will be having them play
with their arms out to the side but with the shoulders relaxed.
They'll feel a new tension in the upper arm
just barely into the shoulder.
This is normal.
It's not a tension that's going to stay.
Once they've gotten comfortable with that a little bit then have them relax the arms
back into the body keeping the shoulders as relaxed as they were before.
In my experience, those who have raised shoulders without a rationale for doing so
tend to find this to be a very beneficial exercise.
Be patient!
Body mapping is hugely beneficial,
but it can take a great deal of time for a student to understand and
conceptualize the concepts,
let alone to actually put them into everyday practice.
If you have body mapping questions,
consult a Certified Andover Educator
or refer to any of the resources listed below.