One Buttock Playing
“You know, a gentleman was once watching a presentation I was doing, when I was working with a young pianist. He was the president of a corporation in Ohio. I was working with this young pianist, and said, “The trouble with you is you’re a two-buttock player. You should be a one-buttock player!” I moved his body while he was playing. And suddenly, the music took off. It took flight. The audience gasped when they heard the difference. Then I got a letter from this gentleman. He said, “I was so moved. I went back and I transformed my entire company into a one-buttock company!” –An excerpt from Zander’s TED Talk
Music moves listeners and players emotionally, but it can also do so physically. Whether playing a challenging showpiece on the violin or leading a conversation with a large group, living life on ‘one-buttock’ allows for spontaneity and freedom. This collection explains the concept of living on the edge of one’s seat and offers a few examples of musical moments that push us to our side. It also provides strategies for being open to movement and change on a broad scale.