Effort Intensity

Effort Intensity
Submitted by Charlotte Wile - December 15, 2003

How should the intensity of Effort be indicated? Plus and minus signs are often used, as in Ex. 1 (slightly Light) and Ex. 2 (markedly Light). However, such indications can sometimes be confusing. For instance, does Ex. 3 represent marked Lightness followed by an unspecified movement backward, or Lightness followed by hip movement backward? Likewise, does the plus sign in Ex. 4 refer to the Light Effort or the Strong Effort?

Here’s one idea for eliminating such confusion. Perhaps the plus and minus signs could be attached to the Effort sign. Moderate Effort could be shown with a slash through the Effort sign. Effort with “any intensity” (i.e., the intensity is unspecified or irrelevant) could be shown with an unmodified sign. For instance:

Ex. 5) slightly Light Effort
Ex. 6) moderately Light Effort
Ex. 7) markedly Light Effort
Ex. 8) slightly Sudden Effort
Ex. 9) moderately Sudden Effort
Ex. 10) markedly Sudden Effort
Ex. 11) Light Effort with any intensity
Ex. 12) Sudden Effort with any intensity
Ex. 13) Markedly Light Effort followed by Strong Effort that has any intensity
Ex. 14) Light Effort that has any intensity followed by Slightly Strong Effort
Ex. 15) Light Effort that has any intensity followed by backward hip movement
Ex. 16) Markedly Light Effort followed by an unspecified backward movement
Ex. 17) A Drive comprised of slightly Strong Effort, Free Effort that has any intensity, and Direct Effort that has any intensity
Ex. 18) A State comprised of markedly Sustained Effort and Moderately Light Effort
Ex. 19) Light-Sustained Effort that has any intensity