Deliver us, Lord, from all cheddar
Cantors - sometimes they take away more than the give. They key thing for a cantor to understand is that it's not about them or how they feel the music. They need to communicate words and invite the congregation to join in where appropriate. Extra movement, like the body sway just before you come in, just distracts people. The grandiose opening of the hand as a prepartory motion is just theatrical. I know a cantor that does a little bounce in her knees when people are supposed to come in. Again, it's just distracting and unnecessary.
The key mistake cantors make is thinking they have to "animate" the congregation. When the attitude is that you need to warm up the crowd rather than lead prayer, you'll always do things that take away from the prayer. Cantors are not the opening act for the priest.
