Funny faces Options

[JME]

When practicing, I often realise that because of my concentration I'm pulling some kind of 'funny face' - OK, not exactly funny, but some kind of facial contortion which must be quite unpleasant for any examiner or potential audience to watch! I suppose it's a bit like the cartoon 'sticky-out-tongue' when someone's concentrating on something. My own involuntary favourites seem to be sucking my cheeks in, or making some kind of unpleasant grimace as if I've just tasted something bitter! As soon as I realise I'm doing it I stop, but of course I must often do it without being aware of it.

Is anyone else similarly afflicted, and is there anything that you do to stop or prevent it?

[fsharpminor]

Lots do it, but I think I'm the opposite ,and am concentrating so much I'm dead pan. Forumites who've seen me play at events may confirm this ?

[julio]

My children tell me that my 'playing the piano' face is exactly the same as my 'knitting' face!

[maggiemay]

haha. My mum used to say ' you don't hold your mouth right'.

[Cyrilla]

haha. My mum used to say ' you don't hold your mouth right'.

Gosh - so did mine!!!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[Czerny]

I chew my tongue. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[miffy]

I have a pupil who contorts their face into some very strange expressions while playing.
My brothers teacher used to write 'shut your mouth' every few lines of his music before exams (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[porilo]

I know that I don't pull faces at all. Too busy concentrating on the music and a waste of time and energy.

[Dugazon]

Frowned forehead, no matter how funny or tragic the song. Really bad habit none of my early singing teacher's tried to break, so I just got used to the fact that I always look like I am going to burst out in tears (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[kathrobert]

Frowned forehead, no matter how funny or tragic the song. Really bad habit none of my early singing teacher's tried to break, so I just got used to the fact that I always look like I am going to burst out in tears (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Similar - but in my case rather surprised, raised eyebrows irrespective of mood of the song!

Trying hard, but the harder I try the more surprised I seem to look!

[Fran*Piano]

I don't tend to pull funny faces, but I quite often "dance" in any rests in a piece-much to my teacher's amusement!!

[DerekH]

No-one seems to have answered your question "How do you stop it?"

It's tension, manifesting itself, of course, as much as concentration.

As a guitarist I'm well aware of the old joke
"What does it mean when a guitarist dribbles out of both sides of his mouth at the same time?"
"The stage is level"

I stopped the gurning when I moved from "only teaching" to "performing with my ensemble", and one of the things we sometimes do is make eye contact with each other - it stops anyone getting too serious about it.

Suggestions for curing yourself at home...
Well, in total privacy, video yourself playing - a digital stills camera is good enough. That will give you the scope of the problem.

Then video yourself again, but regard yourself as being on TV - that camera is a TV camera - flash a Richard Clayderman smile at it when the music allows, and the echoes of that smile will be with you for about 30 seconds.

Try it and see :-)

[denmark77]

Excellent advice - I must try that video technique soon.

Not sure if I do pull any funny faces when playing, but I have been told I look 'dead serious' whenever I perform, as though I am not enjoying it - again, its the level of concentration required that drives this, I think.

Anyone else get carried away by the old 'swaying movement', though? I have been told many times that I sway, to and fro, from left to right, in time to my own beat, whenever I perform - whether singing, playing piano or violin. And I'm not really aware of doing it, let alone why I do it.

I even persuaded the entire front row of my local ensemble to sway in time with me during one performance, so I wouldn't stand out too much ... I think we almost made the audience sea-sick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

As for professional performers pulling funny faces ( or 'jibs / gibs' as my Gran calls them) , they are truly...professional at it. Often, it looks like they're in pure agony ...is that a result of 'tension' manifesting itself, or a dodgy chili con carne at lunch?

[chocolatedog]

There are also some concert pianists who pull faces while playing......

[porilo]

There are also some concert pianists who pull faces while playing......

I know, and very distracting it is too. If I'm at a piano recital I tend to close my eyes because watching them puts me off the music. After all, music is to be listened to, not watched.