INT 563T Tai-Chi for Musicians
Tai chi can be viewed as a type of active meditation (or `meditation in motion’), whereby the mind/body connection is developed and used to coordinate movements through mental awareness. With roots in the Chinese martial arts going back at least two centuries, Tai Chi is typically practiced today as a system of fluid, low-impact movements for the benefit of health and wellness. We teach primarily a Wu style of tai chi, a traditional form of tai chi going back five generations, characterized by smaller, more compact movements than other styles. Originally intended to facilitate short-range body contact when applied as a martial art, this `closed-frame’ character of Wu-style tai chi renders the associated health benefits particularly accessible to practitioners of all ages. All incoming Tai Chi students start with the Tai Chi Paradigm (TCP), a training system developed by Grandmaster Chin to maintain and improve neuro-muscular motor skills and prevent age-related degeneration. Why is tai Chi good for musicians? We will explore the use of gravity, leverage and bio-mechanical structure to eliminate all conflict in muscles and joints in every action ( intent,motion,arrival and release) allowing the body to act as a resonance chamber.