Which way does your head turn?

[Guernseyman]

Now come on - you all know what I'm talking about. Watch any accordion player not using music and they have that vague looking into the distance look which musicians who can't see what they are playing have about them. Are you a lefty or a right when it comes to where you look when playing? This is actually quite serious because it goes back to that all important comfortable position and some accordion players (myself included) have got into trouble with the back by tensing the neck because I was looking off into the distance or concentrating hard.

 

[JIM D.]

90% of accordionists will tend to look to their treble side while playing. The treble side is dominant while performing. JIM D.

 

[Guernseyman]

I must be weird Jim. I look left. Perhaps that is why I'm getting back ache!

 

[Jim the box]

I tend to look around the room at everyone else if I am playing for a dance,
in sessions most other musicians are staring at a spot on the floor(not the same one though). :lol:

 

[goldtopia]

Mostly ahead at the music and sometimes to look down at the keyboard.

 

[Glenn]

I tend to look right and even rest my chin on the treble keyboard side (I'm a lazy.....)

 

[donn]

Ill have to check for a trend, but Id say its more or less going to depend on whats to be seen. Rarely hard to one side or the other, though, head probably doesnt move more than about 15º from center under normal cirumstances. And theres tilt from vertical, Id say this tends to be more often slightly to the left.

I guess the key to comfort is to stay loose and not get frozen into one position. One of my favorite squeezebox players illustrates:

 

[Pippa]

And theres tilt from vertical, Id say this tends to be more often slightly to the left.

I havent noticed a trend for the accordion, staring into distance maybe, but when I play the piano my head is always tilted to the left!

 

[Guernseyman]

Definitely a head tilt to the right though Donn!

 

[Anyanka]

It might also have something to do with trying to remember the tune - visually dominant rememberers apparently look up and right when trying to picture something. However, you can see in my picture that I'm a left-and-down.

 

[HjST]

Having looked at pictures I don't seem to have a preference, but I think that's usually because I generally know what I'm doing and so I'm concentrating on the surroundings. However when I don't know what I'm doing, I think I look down and left more often.

 

[smdc66]

I tend to look right and even rest my chin on the treble keyboard side (Im a lazy.....)

ditto

however i sometimes like to sit in front of a mirror whilst practicing - this encourages you to look forward more

 

[george garside]

I look forwards unless I move head to watch a particular dancer ( but this normally only requires eye movement). Standing or sitting upright and looking ahead is probably the most comfortable anatomically. If performing I focus on the back wall of the hall.

george

 

[oldchemist]

Mostly right but for some tunes I look left. No idea why!