sample excerpt from
Igniting Response: the conductor's toolbox
POSTURE
Our minds carry out the instructions that Posture sends...
Not only in ensemble, but everywhere else in their lives (ours, too).  
  • Students are rarely "posture-aware" unless looking in the mirror.  
  • And they’re equally unaware of how strongly their posture communicates
    what's going on inside them.
  • Help them become more aware of their posture by asking them to
    check out their friends’ posture in the halls between classes.
           Ask them to notice what messages the kids in the hall are sending to each other; maybe
    even to bring in a list – “posture patrol.”
  • They’re sure to think “Is that what I look like? They might even ask
    their friends.      
    Ask them to become aware of the messages their posture is sending to others – and most
    important – to themselves.
    Suggest that they come up with ways of reminding themselves
Working on posture can be a powerful catalyst for engagement and active
    participation.
  • This is in addition to the positive change in students' self-talk that
    you create as they become mindful of Posture and its influence.
  • When our young musicians realize that we, their music teachers, are
    helping them build their confidence, self-image, and ability to think about
     their thinking...getting their attention and cooperation is so much easier.
  • This is my consistent experience over 20 years.
 
"This is exciting? I just love rehearsing?   
I'm gonna do my  very best?"
Highly unlikely!
No matter what we say, his posture  
speaks
far louder to him.
And we know that shouting out "Posture"
when we feel attention waning...won't get
him to sit up straighter for very long.
Create better posture in all your ensembles.
Model good posture, and; Ask, don't tell
  • Walk on to the podium with different walks – enthusiastic, tired/distracted, alert, depressed.  
  • Ask your students: "What messages does my posture/walk send you about how excited I am to lead the rehearsal."
  • Then ask how those messages affects them.  
  • Do they inspire them to pay attention and do their best?
  • Start rehearsing schlumped over; don’t say anything; stay that way until they begin to notice and start sitting and standing up.
  • The second they do, YOU stand up super straight with a smile.  
  • Don’t say anything.  You don’t have to since your posture and smile sends this message: Yeah, right, great, terrific, super!   
    Also: You’re so smart I don’t have to TELL you this stuff…you can get it by yourselves.
  • Modeling bad posture from the podium sends a powerful message – This is what you look like.  
    That’s the best we can do since we can’t get into every kid’s head quickly and all the time
  • This is far more effective in getting better posture than telling them – when they see what they look like, they can decide for
    themselves whether they want to look like that or not; it transfers responsibility to them.
  • Asking is infinitely far more productive than telling.
  • Remember that , the root of the word "education" is the Latin "educere."  It means "to draw out of."
  • Which comment do you think students will respond to better?
  
  What messages do those crossed legs tell you?  
Be alert? Listen carefully?”  
 “Uncross those legs.”
  “Does schlumping down tell your mind that your answer is
worth listening to…you’re probably right?  What does that
do for your confidence?”  
 “Sit up straight!”
  “Chorus!  When you don’t stand up straight, what does
that do to your lungs?  Does that help support your sound?”    
 “Shoulders back!  Stand tall!”
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Posture - a key element in students' response
Posture sends powerful messages to students’ minds that strongly affects productivity:
  •  Good posture creates thoughts like: “I am alert, doing something important, and capable of doing well.”   
  Model - and insist on - good posture.
  Attention, engagement, learning, retention, energy, and gratitude to you - unspoken, of course - will soar!
  •  Bad posture creates thoughts like “I’m not very good or
    important…I can’t do well…so why bother or even pay attention.
     This is a drag and, besides...it's so early and I’m so tired."  
  Will our comments about the importance of  watching—or that sforzando— trump that?
  Bad posture compromises attention and learning; letting it slide handicaps our work from the very start;
  It’s like throwing away half of the too-little time we have!
  •  Make good posture an absolutely top priority; it’s as important as practicing, watching, or marking the music.