The Physical and Mental Similarities of Sport and String Performance

This book examines the physical and mental similarities between playing sports and playing a string instrument, showing that two areas that seem like polar opposites are actually similar in a number of ways. The following elements are examined: balance and posture, movement, and the mental aspects. The book shows that musicians and athletes both must have proper posture and good balance in order to perform at their best and avoid injury. String players and athletes share many different movements in common and in both string playing and athletics creating needed power requires whole body movement to become involved. Learning to deal effectively with the shared mental challenges of string playing and sports can make both musicians and athletes better performers. By studying athletes in the way they stand, move, and think, string players can improve their technique and open themselves to a new field of learning.