Pain and Illness

This ebook, An Alexander Technique Approach to Musicians’ Injuries, is published in a PDF format. It is written to give all performing musicians deep insights into the habits and technique that performers have that can end careers with pain, strain, tension, and injuries. I look at all of the instruments from piano, to guitar to clarinet, to singing etc.
This ebook is also for sale on all AMAZON websites in a KINDLE format.
Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. (MOVEMENT THERAPY)

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CREATE A RADICAL, POSITIVE, PERMANENT CHANGE TO HOW YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, SING, OR DO A SPORT?

The unwillingness to let what you’ve been doing slide, that has gotten you in physical trouble.

What do I mean?

I changed my guitar technique a whole bunch of times, most not for the better. But that’s a whole other essay.

Anyway, when I was changing the positioning of my right hand to pluck the strings, it invariably would find its way back to the way I had been playing. I did my best to remain vigilant, that I not slip back into my old technique,, as I was establishing the technique.

This process of replacing one technique with a different technique is exhausting, because the moment my mind wandered, I instantly found my hand and fingers back where they used to be.

I really had to keep an eye on my hand and fingers, literally and mentally (in my thoughts), or I’d be back playing the old way.

It usually took about two weeks for the new way of doing things to become second nature, and then I didn’t have to be so hyper vigilant.

I was thinking, why is it when I want to change something else, like my habitual thought patterns, it can take much longer, or not happen at all, and I give up?

IT ISN’T THAT I’M NOT PUTTING IN THE TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE CHANGES. WHAT I REALIZED IS HAPPENING WHEN THE CHANGES ARE TAKING FOREVER, IS THAT WHEN I DO WHAT I HAVE DONE, I’M NOT INHIBITING THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS THE MOMENT I SEE I’VE BACKSLID.

What do I mean?

If I find myself unconsciously being critical of everyone around me, and become conscious I’m doing this in my thoughts, and have committed to not doing this anymore, what’s the next best course of action?

INHIBIT THESE THOUGHTS AND CHOOSE LOVING THOUGHTS. DO I DO THIS?

I have become painfully aware I don’t, and I may shred others for possibly hours before I stop.

WHEN I CHANGED MY GUITAR TECHNIQUE, I NEVER ALLOWED MYSELF TO CONTINUE WITH THE OLD TECHNIQUE, WHEN I BECAME AWARE I HAD BACKSLID.

It finally dawned on me.

YOU CAN’T REPLACE AN OLD HABIT WITH A NEW HABIT, IF YOU DON’T STOP/INHIBIT THE OLD HABIT AND DO THE NEW HABIT, WHEN YOU SEE YOU’VE BACKSLID.

So many times when I become aware that I am being hyper critical of myself and/or others, I just keep attacking in my thoughts.

If I continue to do this, I won’t change the habit of attack.

I want to make an important point here, when you change how you run or play the piano, you are ideally making positive changes to how well you play the piano or run.

When you’re making changes to who you are, and the results aren’t so tangible/instantly rewarding, who you have been will probably push back with a vengeance.

It is up to you to decide if you’re as important as your piano playing or your running, and to stop going down the rabbit hole, when you see it happening.