Hung

What does balancing on a tightrope, touching a single drop of water, and playing piano have in common? All three feats require extreme coordination and precision and depend highly on the tactile sense. If activated and heightened,the body’s tactile - and more broadly, somatosensory - system can intuitively and finely grade the necessary muscular and positional requirements to execute the demands of piano playing, from posture and use of arm weight to articulation and phrasing.

Developed by the late Dutch pianist and physiotherapist Gerrit Onne van der Klashorst, Dispokinesis is a pedagogicaland therapeutic methodology that places touch sensitivity at the heart of musicianship and technical development. Through constant engagement of and reflection on the tactile sense, students work to rebuild their habitual functional movements from the ground up. The resulting freedom of movement and heightened self-awareness empower students to overcome pervasive injury, technical hurdles, and psychological inhibitions.

I will first present an overview of the tactile system’s role in piano playing, drawing on research in kinesiology and the principles of Dispokinesis. I will then show, through video recordings and live demonstration, select exercises from the work of van der Klashorst and Julia Tom, a certified Dispokinesis (and my own) instructor. In addition, I will demonstrate several piano-specific exercises I designed for my students. These exercises target various challenges, including posture and stability, arm weight, voicing and balance, and articulation.

Iris Hung (BMus UVic, MMus UofT) is the founder of Pano Piano Music School and a faculty member of the University of Toronto Piano Pedagogy. Her work on practical applications of touch and Dispokinesis has influenced students and educators across Canada and the US, redefining piano pedagogy with mindful, effective methods.