I heard this TED Talk a couple of years ago, and thought vaguely at the time that it was probably something to try. Would a more powerful posture really change my attitude and success rate? Would people perceive my performances as stronger, and would I FEEL stronger? Then I decided that if I had any more confidence on the oboe I'd be just plain cocky. This advice wasn't for me. I let myself forget all about it. (Sidenote: my archery instructor comments frequently on my excellent posture. Delights me deeply.) Something happened today, though. I have a student who is very shy and self effacing. Every week she comes in and I have to ask and ask for real air, for confidence, for power in her playing. She is a fine oboist, but she has a tiny sound and she stops every few seconds to apologize for the smallest mistakes. By the end of the lesson she usually is playing very well, but I have to be on her constantly until she pulls it together and blows real air through the instr