This ebook, An Alexander Technique Approach to Mandolin Technique, is published on this website in a PDF format. It is very detailed and practical, and it will give you the physical tools you need to take the limits off of your ability to create the accurate mandolin technique you want without sacrificing your body.
This ebook is also for sale on all AMAZON websites in a KINDLE format.
Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A.
BEGINNING A NEW ACTIVITY OR REVAMPING AN OLD ACTIVITY WITH THE FAITH YOU WILL MASTER THE ACTIVITY IS HALF THE BATTLE.
THE OTHER HALF OF THE BATTLE IS BEING FULLY AWARE OF YOUR POSTURE IN THE ACTIVITY, WHAT IS GREAT TECHNIQUE IN THE ACTIVITY, AND WHAT THE TENSION LEVEL IS IN YOUR BODY AS YOU DO THE ACTIVITY.
IN A NEW ACTIVITY YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO AVOID WHAT DOESN’T WORK. IN AN OLD ACTIVITY, ONE YOU’VE DONE FOR A LONG TIME, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE CHANGES. YOU GET TO STOP DAMAGING YOUR BODY AND REALLY EXCEL AT THE ACTIVITY.
All of the above sounds like common sense. It is, but the problem lies in how you define great posture, great technique, and the ideal tension level in the body as you do the activity – from playing a piano, to singing, to running, to playing golf, etc.
Let me define great posture in an activity. There is lengthening and release and alignment throughout your whole body as you play golf or run or play the violin. You don’t create postural alignment in the body as you do the activity, by immobilizing areas of your body!
Ideally, there is always internal movement in your whole body, whether you’re running or playing an instrument or lifting weights. This means that even when you’re lifting weights with great posture and alignment, you don’t immobilize areas of your body prior to lifting or as you’re lifting. You create the proper muscular dynamic in your body during any activity, so you don’t create compression in your joints or postural collapse.
SO, YOU STILL HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT WITHOUT COMPRESSION AND HUNKERING DOWN.
What is great technique?
GREAT TECHNIQUE IN ANY ACTIVITY IS A TECHNIQUE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DO WHAT YOU’RE DOING WITHOUT ANY WEAR AND TEAR TO THE BODY. GREAT TECHNIQUE ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO DO WHAT YOU’RE DOING WITH EASE AND FACILITY.
This means you don’t need to strain to sing a difficult passage beautifully. It means you don’t need to tense and strain to hit the golf ball a great distance, or tense to FORCE the golf ball into the hole when you putt.
Great technique in any activity allows you to do what is difficult without immobilizing parts of your body. Immobilizing parts of your body always causes wear and tear to joints and strains muscles.
What is the proper tension level in your body in an activity?
IT IS THE MINIMUM MUSCULAR ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT YOUR WHOLE BODY THAT IS NECESSARY TO GET THE ACTIVITY DONE WITH “HIGH” ENERGY AND DYNAMIC. SO YOU DON’T CAUSE WEAR AND TEAR TO ANY OF YOUR JOINTS, MUSCLES, LIGAMENTS, OR TENDONS.
What is it that makes all of the above unique to the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique places all of your focus and awareness on HOW you do the activity and not on the goal of mastering the activity. This means NOT GETTING IT DONE AT ANY COST WITH WEAR AND TEAR TO YOUR BODY.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AND THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE TEACHER ARE INCREDIBLY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT IS GREAT POSTURE AND GREAT TECHNIQUE IN ANY ACTIVITY, SO YOU DON’T SACRIFICE YOUR BODY.
Much of what I’ve just written about sounds theoretical, but the Alexander Technique and the Alexander Technique teacher teaches you a direct practical application to whatever activity you want to learn or learn to do better.
AND HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN EXPERT TEACHER IN ANY ACTIVITY.
