On Friday we were focussing on the quality of movement and voice. We started by trying to imitate exactly the movements of our partner, then tried to do the opposite. Fascinating to really analyse movement in this way - looking not only at speed, but tension of muscles and rhythm and quality.
We then did the same with voice. First, imitating the voice quality and sound of our partner, still with the intention of making music - the person copying is independent but needs to use the same pitch, volume, force of the voice. Haim called this Osmosis. The we played with Variation. In this exercise there is one leader. They make a proposal, and their partner supports it. This support can be percussive, a melody, louder or quieter, but it must 'fit'. The third exercise was to create contrast, and maintain that contrast. This was Opposition, but Haim also described it as doing something 'Elsewhere' to what your partner does. The challenge here was to make sure it wasn't just variation, and that we really stayed with our own sound/rhythm etc. If someone is singing a pretty melody, the other person might shout loudly to shut the door. It was striking how beautiful and interesting these improvisations were. And funny.
We use versions of these techniques all the time in visits. What I liked about today was the depth and clarity that the exercises went into. And it brought to mind beautiful and effective Elderflower and Special Branch visits where we use the child or elderly person's voice or movement to let them know we are with them, and I am feeling all full up with love for the work that we do.
By the end of Friday I was totally exhausted. We did a simple musical wash exercise with MC. All we had to do was create a simple rhythm with a partner, and present it to the group, making contact with everybody. As soon as we stood up to present ours I knew I was going to cry, and I did. For no reason really, other than tiredness. So this weekend, I went to the countryside with a very good friend of mine, and we walked in the hills and swam in the sea and I didn't have to look in anybody's eyes if I didn't want to!
Hasta Lunes, Maripositas x
We then did the same with voice. First, imitating the voice quality and sound of our partner, still with the intention of making music - the person copying is independent but needs to use the same pitch, volume, force of the voice. Haim called this Osmosis. The we played with Variation. In this exercise there is one leader. They make a proposal, and their partner supports it. This support can be percussive, a melody, louder or quieter, but it must 'fit'. The third exercise was to create contrast, and maintain that contrast. This was Opposition, but Haim also described it as doing something 'Elsewhere' to what your partner does. The challenge here was to make sure it wasn't just variation, and that we really stayed with our own sound/rhythm etc. If someone is singing a pretty melody, the other person might shout loudly to shut the door. It was striking how beautiful and interesting these improvisations were. And funny.
We use versions of these techniques all the time in visits. What I liked about today was the depth and clarity that the exercises went into. And it brought to mind beautiful and effective Elderflower and Special Branch visits where we use the child or elderly person's voice or movement to let them know we are with them, and I am feeling all full up with love for the work that we do.
By the end of Friday I was totally exhausted. We did a simple musical wash exercise with MC. All we had to do was create a simple rhythm with a partner, and present it to the group, making contact with everybody. As soon as we stood up to present ours I knew I was going to cry, and I did. For no reason really, other than tiredness. So this weekend, I went to the countryside with a very good friend of mine, and we walked in the hills and swam in the sea and I didn't have to look in anybody's eyes if I didn't want to!
Hasta Lunes, Maripositas x