You may or may not like the TV show Strictly Come Dancing…
(Personally I hate it)...
But there’s an interesting lesson to learn from those fancy dancers...
To get you up to scratch...
Strictly Come Dancing is a TV show where pro dancers teach celebs how to dance…
Each week the dancers get better and better...
And at the end of each week… the audience gets to vote who they like the most.
The dancers with the least amount of votes get booted off (how cruel I know.)
Okay now we’re all on the same page... I want to look at what this show can teach us about music...
The aim of the game with dancing is simple...
Move your body in time with the music (And try to be as graceful as you can.)
You see when learning to play guitar… moving your body helps you to lock in time with the music…
It gets you groovin’...
And it helps to bring life into your playing.
How you feel when you play has a direct impact on the sound of your playing.
Whenever my own playing feels lifeless... It's usually because I'm not “into it”.
I stay very still in my movements… and my guitar playing sounds more robotic as a result.
When I see people get into the music… and their body is moving…
I can hear subtle nuances that come out.
Their guitar playing sounds more lively and… well human.
There’s another up side to this...
People who move their body to the music have an easier time learning new strumming patterns too...
Some of you might be thinking “wait a minute… is Darryl about to ask me to dance while practicing?”...
You’ll be pleased to hear the answer is no.
What I am going to ask you to do is to get your body moving a bit.
Sway from side to side…
Nod your head (like the Churchill dog in those insurance adverts)...
Move your chest back and forward with your head…
Anything to get your body moving.
This is going to help you feel the music… Lock in time…
Learn patterns faster… and sound more musical along the way.
Have fun with this one and get that body movin’