Force is the utilization of energy while playing or moving to music. This affects gravity, which inhibits body movement, balance, centering and posture. Musicians need proper balance and posture to play instruments as do dancers whose bodies are their instrument.
The area where musicians play onstage, an orchestra pit and other venues provide the acoustics necessary for sound to be heard. Dancers utilize space to move forward, backward, sideways, up and down. Space and form are basic elements of dance. Form is the overall structure of dance and music. This is evident in relation to both the dance moves and the composition of the music.
Time is the duration of a piece of music and dance. Tempo is fast or slow, long or short in duration with a beat that is syncopated or even. Rhythm is the flow of the music through time and space. Dance and music would not exist without these essential elements, working in concert with one another.
Without memory, music and dance cannot exist. Dancers must remember what steps go with which bars of music as well as tempo changes. Musicians need to retain notes, chords, volume of sound, length of a musical note, its timbre and mood, and whether it is in harmony or intentionally discordant.
The diaphragm is the key muscle that supports all inhalation and exhalation, functioning like a giant balloon. Whether you are a dancer or a musician, relaxed, controlled and efficient breathing is an essential element of your art. Breathing controls emotion, motion and intensity of performance. Proper breathing maintains abdominal muscles and balance throughout the body, particularly the spine and legs for dancers. Proper posture and breathing technique are crucial to musicians, especially those who play woodwind and brass instruments, such as the oboe and trumpet.