This ebook, An Alexander Technique Approach to Musicians’ Injuries, is published on this website 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)
When I was aspiring to become a concert guitarist, I developed carpal tunnel syndrome practicing six hours a day, seven days a week. I went to an Alexander Technique teacher who taught me how to play the guitar for the first time in my life without sacrificing my body. It was such an amazing experience, that I later trained to become an Alexander Technique teacher. Because I had learned to play the guitar as a perfectionist, I never ever took “I can’t do it” from myself as an answer, when I couldn’t perform something difficult on the guitar. This led to my carpal tunnel injury, because I worked harder and harder to play difficult music, not smarter and smarter.
I’m going to look at the most common physical problems that musicians cause to the different parts of their bodies, and show you how to approach these injuries and pains and strains using the principles of the Alexander Technique. As an Alexander Technique teacher who loves to work with musicians, I’m going to convey to you how I work with musicians in physical trouble. There is truly no substitute for going to a teacher, but it is my intention in this ebook to get you to rethink your approach to your instrument’s technique and the posture you bring to your instrument, so that you stop harming your body.
Injuries are not inevitable to a musical performer, but they are common. When they occur, many performers try to play through the pain or take a break from practicing. Playing through the pain never really works. It may look like it is working if you stop hurting, but if you don’t change the habits that got you in trouble in the first place, you will start hurting again. Taking a break from practicing may interrupt the pain – tension cycle, but when you go back to the consistent practicing of difficult literature, you will get back into pain, if your habits are the same.
