Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
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Skill or technique?
Glenn Gould had great skill and talent, but I would contest whether he had great technique.
It would appear that there may be some confusion with regards to 'skill' and 'technique' in respect of performing a specialised activity and I believe this confusion does not help anyone improve their abilities. Indeed by differentiating between one and the other we can focus on specific needs to improve our performance at any given activity.
Let us consider a golfer's swing or tennis serve or a pianist or violinist's ability to perform. For instance, I've heard it mentioned on radio or read in a review of a concert that so-and-so violinist has a phenomenal technique. What it seems they are referring to is the person's ability to play accurately, in time, in tune, with fast, dexterous finger-work....the sort of ability that can only come from thousands of hours of practice over a whole life-time. They are referring to this person's ability to play the music, as opposed to the musical interpretation that relates to the emotions, phrasing and subtle artistic innuendos that make for a great performance and musical experience. However I would contest that this is not their technique but their skill at their vocation. Some people can have great skill despite having poor technique. I wonder how much better they could be if they had better technique as well as such talent and skill.
Arthur Rubinstein had great skill and wonderful technique.
Looking at the New Oxford Dictionary it says:
Technique: "A way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of an artistic work". Wikipedia says: "A procedure used to accomplish a specific activity." Collins Dictionary says: "a practical method or art applied to a particular task."
With regards to skill, the New Oxford Dictionary says:
Skill: "The ability to do something well. Expertise." Wikipedia says: "The ability to perform a task. The learnt capacity or talent to carry out predetermined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy or both." Collins Dictionary says: " ability acquired by training."
As a teacher of the Alexander Technique, it is often my privilege to work with musicians both from a postural and health point of view, but also in relation to their ability to play their instrument. I am not an expert in the various instruments (even my modest attempts to play the violin do not count in relation to the standard I refer to with top performers) so I cannot help them there. They have years of experience that has developed their skill with the finger-work, mouth embrochure, vocal training or whatever. Nor can I help them with their musical interpretation of any given piece. The aspect of their playing that I can possibly help them with is how they 'use themselves' to play the instrument. This is to do with their posture, plus their freedom of use of arms, hands, fingers, balance and co-ordination. Posture does not accurately sum it up as 'posture' is so static and implies 'held' uprightness. To perform we need to move, and do so with gentle accuracy, sensitivity and poise that involves the minimum of muscular strain and resistance with the maximum freedom, agility and speed.
I believe we should identify between technique and skill as they can be viewed as entirely different aspects of performance although there is an overlap. And by looking at each independently we can help bring more from ourselves to the performance, be it music or sport or other activity. We may develop great skill in an activity despite unreliable or poor technique, but how much better could it be?
I would suggest the following:
Skill: the learnt ability to play the sport or musical instrument. The technical aspects of performance including where applicable, the grip or hold, dexterous fingering or manipulation and breathing, embrochure etc.
Rubinstein showing great poise while pretending to play at a table
Technique: How we use ourselves in the act of performing in terms of poise, expansiveness in the joints, balance, co-ordination and the wherewithal to perform our 'skill' with the minimum of interference from bodily tensions etc and maximum freedom to move and express. How we hold the instrument, i.e. the height and angle of the instrument. The style, grace and fluidity of bodily poise and movement in performance.
Talent: The natural aptitude from birth that 'allows us' to learn a skill with ease.
Understanding there is a difference in these meanings can help, I believe, to enhance one's abilities to the highest level, beyond what may be possible if either is neglected.
