-i think you're right ilikemozart. when we watch our favorite performers, and like their technique, we tend to imimtate it, which i find annoying, b/c you're being someone you're not.
-i also happen to think that her piano instructor told her to do it, too. i saw an episode of American Idol and the week after the judges told them they were putting their heart and soul into the performance, they then decided to act mechanically, making all of these exaggerated facial and bodily movements, which didn't match the bad way they were singing.

I like Andre Watts, but you're right about the facial expressions. As apt as they usually are, it's distracting. In one music class we watched a video of his Carnegie Hall anniversary concert, I think it was, and he played Rachmaninov and Liszt concertos. The music was very nice, but at one point he made a face that had the whole class bust out laughing.

o man.. extraneous movements just annoy the heck out of me. I mean, it's one thing if it's obviously natural and not too over the top, but... well actually facial expressions bug me much more. I also get annoyed when ridiculous extra movement is mistaken for musicality. whatever... And it really does affect your sound. In my lesson today my teacher was just showing me the difference in sound when I just played without really thinking (which included too much wrist and a slight lean to the right for upper register) and when I tried to minimize and control my movements. the latter was much nicer. Although I guess maybe some people can pull off all of the flailing. *snaps for them*