Does music enhance or diminish “continuity” during practice of T’ai Chi Chih movements?

Each day, at this year’s conference, we had one full practice with lovely background music.

This brought to mind a conversation Justin and I had some time back about his music. Our discussion centered around how music can affect the continuity of our TCC movements and divert our attention away from this continuity as we move. Continuity means giving equal measure and mindfulness to each part of every movement. Continuity, along with softness, is the essence of how we move.

So often when I practice TCC to a rhythmical background of music, I become “hypnotized” by the cadence of that particular piece. I notice continuity gets lost into a rhythm. “That is not TCC,” Justin states bluntly. TCC is not a dance; it has no cadence.

The last practice of the conference, the background music was a piece written and played by Justin specifically for TCC practice [“Music for T’ai Chi Chih Practice & Restful Listening”]. It offered no invitation to fall into a hypnotic state; there was no repetitive rhythm. Justin’s music kept waking us up and we were free to watch the continuity in our movements.

Granted, some of us thought this rather jolting; falling into lazy reverie is so easy.

Or maybe you are one of the teachers who can stay present to the continuity of your movements no matter what is playing in the background.