Contribuições de uma sessão de exercícios corporais para as qualidades posturais, técnicas e interpretativas de pianistas

Abstract

Maintaining postures in daily activities is the same as training the neuromuscular system to support the body segments in specific positions. This promotes motor learning to support the postures adopted, and consequently, develops physiological adaptations in various tissues of the human body systems. However, poor body position can cause injuries. To play piano, we can observe that the kyphotic posture is commonly practiced by pianists, promoting unfavorable conditions for body structures, such as joints, muscles and innervations, especially in the scapular region. Based on the fundamentals of Anatomy, Kinesiology and Biomechanics, this research presented a brief reading about the human body, explaining basic concepts about bones, joints, muscles, fascias and nerves. Then, the discussions were directed to the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems of the scapular region, explaining about the importance of the engagement of these structures and how this can influence the musical performance of pianists. The theoretical foundations presented elucidated the objective of the research, which was to verify the contributions of a session of body practices consisting of mobility, flexibility and strength training exercises directed at the shoulder girdle for the physical characteristics, technical qualities and musical expressiveness of pianists. The physical exercises were elaborated by the researcher and had a didactic, objective, sequential and organizational configuration. Data collection was carried out in just one day, and had the participation of nine pianists, graduates and university students. Two moments of performances were performed on a digital piano, one before and another right after the physical exercises intervention. At each moment, the participants performed two practices: Free Practice (FP) and Guided Practice (GP). In FP, the pianists' musical performance was filmed from three angles. The PG consisted of performing two tasks, in which the parameters rhythmic precision, synchronism between hands and intensity of keystroke were measured. At the end, each pianist described their Subjective Perceptions (SP) about the use of the body in their musical practices in the moments before and after the intervention. The footage collected is archived in individual portfolios and sent to a Panel of Experts in the fields of health and music. They were instructed to write a free report on the physical characteristics, technical and musical qualities observed in each video. This observation process was mono- blind, that is, the videos referring to the pre-intervention and post-intervention moments were not identified for the specialists, which provided an impartial investigation. In general, it was possible to conclude that, after the intervention, the pianists presented better postural, technical and interpretive quality in their performances, achieved more favorable bodily perceptions, tended to play with less intensity of keystrokes and this seems to allow better levels of rhythmic precision.