Stacking the Joints

This chapter presents foundational principles of optimal alignment based on biomechanics and body mapping. This approach to physical alignment moves away from a traditional static posture, toward a model that places the breath at the heart of balanced movement. Key components the music instructor can draw from to support retraining students’ physical alignment include heightening their kinesthetic awareness through body mapping movement explorations and sharing factual information about joint alignment and the breathing mechanism. Guidelines for the instructors’ approach to incorporating these elements are introduced. Such guidelines include use of imagery, prioritizing ease, and using appropriate language.