Tai Chi for Musicians

 

MUSO 165

Course Syllabus

 

Instructor:  Joe Rea Phillips

 

Text:  TÕai Chi Chuan Ð Cheng Man-chÕing

 

Video:  Tai Chi Chuan Ð James Cravens

 

I. Course Description

 

        This course will teach performing musicians the therapeutic benefits gained from the

         practice of Tai Chi Chuan. The Main emphasis of instruction, the yang style short

         form, will be supplemented by warm-up routines, energy exercises, and chi kung.

 

 

 

II.  Organization

  

        A.  Week One

1.     Discussion of the background, definition, and principles of Tai Chi

Chuan as an internal martial art

2.     Tai Chi warm-up routine

3.     Section I of the form (the form is numbered for reference)

1.     Preparation Ð Wu Ji posture

                                  2    Beginning

3.   Grasp SparrowÕs Tail Ð Ward off Left

            4.   Grasp SparrowÕs Tail Ð Ward off Right

 

        B.  Week Two

                     1.  Tai Chi warm-up routine

                      2.  Review form with corrections

                      3.   Finish section I of the form

      5.  Grasp SparrowÕs Tail - Rollback

      6.  Grasp SparrowÕs Tail - Press

7.  Grasp SparrowÕs Tail - Push

8.     Single Whip

 

         C. Week Three

                      1.  Tai Chi warm-up routine         

                       2.  Energy exercises

1.     Outer Circles

2.     Water Shift Movements

                       3.  Review form with corrections

                       4.  Section II of the form

9.     Lift Hands

10.   Shoulder Bump

11.   Crane Spreads Wings

12.  Brush Knee

13.  Play Guitar

14.  Brush Knee

 

           D. Week Four

1.     Tai Chi warm-up exercises

2.     Energy exercises

1.     Review

2.     Snake and Cobra

3.     Tea Cup

3.     Review form with corrections

4.     Finish Section II of the form

15.  Step Forward, Parry and Punch

  16.  Withdraw and Push

      17.   Cross hands

      18.   Carry Tiger to Mountain

  19.   Rollback

       20.  Press

       21.  Withdraw and Push

22.    Single Whip

 

             E. Week Five

                          1.  Tai Chi warm-up routine

                               1.  Chen Style Silk Reeling exercises

                           2. Review form with corrections

                           3.  Section III of the form

      23.  Punch Under Elbow

24.  Repulse Monkey, Right

25. Repulse Monkey, Left

26.  Repulse Monkey, Right

27.  Diagonal Flying

 

              F.  Week Six

                           1.  Tai Chi warm-up routine

                            2. Review form with corrections

                            3. Finish Section III of the form

28.   Wave hands Like Clouds, Right

29.   Wave Hands Like Clouds, Left

30.   Wave Hands Like Clouds, Right

31.   Single Whip

 

               G.  Week Seven

1.     Tai Chi Warm-up

2.     Eight Pieces of Brocade: Bow and Arrow

3.     Review form with corrections

4.     Section IV of the form

32. Snake Creeps Down

   33. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, Right

   34. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, Left

   35. Separate Foot, Right

   36. Separate Foot, Left

   37. Turn and Strike with Heel

   38. Brush Knee, Left

                H.  Week Eight

1.     Tai Chi warm-up routine

2.     Eight Pieces of Brocade: Rotate the body

3.     Review form with corrections

4.     Finish Section IV of the form

                                    39.  Brush Knee, Right

                                    40. Needle at the Bottom of the Sea

41.   Step Forward, Parry, and Ward Off

42.   Rollback

43.   Press

44.   Withdraw and Push

45.   Single Whip

 

                   I.  Week Nine

1.     Tai Chi warm-up routine

2.     Eight Pieces of Brocade: Holding up One Arm

3.     Review form with corrections

4.     Section V of the form

46.   Fair Lady Works Shuttles, Right

47.   Fair Lady Works Shuttles, Left

48.   Fair lady Works Shuttles, Right

49.   Fair Lady Works Shuttles, Left

 

                   J.  Week Ten

1.     Tai Chi warm-up routine

2.     Eight Pieces of Brocade: Looking Backward

3.     Review form with corrections

4.     Finish section V of the form

50.   Ward Off, Left

51.   Ward Off, Right

52.   Rollback

53.   Press

54.   Push

55.   Single Whip

 

                    K.  Week Eleven

1.     Tai Chi warm-up routine

2.     Eight Pieces of Brocade: Supporting heaven

3.     Review form with corrections

4.     Section VI of the form

56.  Snake Creeps Down

57.  Seven Stars

58.  Step Back and Ride Tiger

59.  Turn Body and Sweep Lotus with Leg

 

                   

                  L. Week Twelve

                  1.  Tai Chi warm-up routine

                   2.  Eight Pieces of Brocade: Standing on the Toes

                               3. Finish Section VI of the form

             60.  Bend Bow and Shoot Arrow

                                     61.  Step Forward, Parry, and Punch

             62. Withdraw and Push

             63. Cross Hands                    

                                     64. Conclusion

    M. Week Thirteen

1.     Tai Chi warm-up routine

2.     Eight Pieces of Brocade: Bending the Body

3.     Review form with corrections

    N. Week Fourteen

1.     Tai Chi warm-up routine

2.     Eight Pieces of Brocade: Holding the Fist

3.     Review form with corrections

    O. Week Fifteen

1.     Tai Chi warm-up routine

2.     Practice all six sections of the form and review for final exam

III.  Student Evaluation

        A. Final Exam

1.     Each student will be required to perform the Yang style short form.

        B. Final Grade

1.     The final grade is calculated as follows:

a.     Final exam Ð 1/3

b.     Class preparation, participation, and performance Ð 2/3

c.     Attendance is mandatory in this class, thus more than 1 absence will place a student in jeopardy of failing the course.

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