This ebook, Going for It in Musical Performance, is published on this website in a PDF format. It is written to give all performing musicians deep insights into the beliefs and bad habits that performers have that can end careers with pain, strain, tension, and injuries.
This ebook is also for sale on all AMAZON websites in a KINDLE format.
Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. (MOVEMENT THERAPY)
I’m fascinated by how self-destructive we are as a species, when it comes to specialized and everyday activities.
We’re willing to ruin our bodies over the years with bad technique in everything from using a computer, to walking, to running, to playing a musical instrument, to gain mastery or simply get stuff done.
When I work with clients as an Alexander Technique teacher, it is amazing to me how easily they can default to poor movement technique in whatever activity we’re looking at.
When making a change to how you do specialized and everyday activities, you’re being pulled in two different directions, once you’ve been shown how to do things without sacrificing the body. What do I mean?
IN LEARNING TO DO ACTIVITIES THE ALEXANDRIAN WAY, YOU’RE SHOWN HOW TO DO ACTIVITIES WITHOUT WEAR AND TEAR, AND TO MAKE WHAT WAS DIFFICULT EASY, OR AT LEAST LESS DIFFICULT. THIS INCLUDES ALL ACTIVITIES, FROM ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES, TO PLAYING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, TO WALKING.
When a client comes to my door for an Alexander session, and he or she is in a rush, it is amazing how all we’ve done is forgotten. They walk hunkered down, with their feet turned outward, if that is their old habit. The same thing can happen, if they play a musical instrument, or sing in the session.
Are the grooves cut into the mind over the years, in how a person does things, so deeply ingrained, that it is easier to hurt themselves, rather than consciously establish a pain-free way to move without sacrificing the body?
IS IT EASIER TO MUDDLE THROUGH LIFE IN PHYSICAL PAIN, RATHER THAN COMMIT TO TAKING THE STEPS TO GO THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT WEARING OUT YOUR BODY?
Can a commitment to go through life without harming your body, truly replace the unconscious poor body use of wearing out your knees or your spine, when you run or play an instrument?
YES! BUT ONLY IF YOU FIND JOY IN TRANSFORMING YOUR WAY OF MOVING AND BEING IN THE WORLD!
What do I mean?
When you use the Alexander Technique to change the way you do the things, then you are choosing to make your daily existence less physical work. You learn to stop harming your joints, your ligaments, your spinal disks, and your muscles in all activities.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO SEE THIS TYPE OF LEARNING AS JUST ONE MORE CHORE IN GETTING THROUGH LIFE, YOU’RE SCREWED.
The unique basis of what the Alexander Technique has to offer, is that taking care of yourself in all that you do, is a GIFT to yourself.
HOW YOU DO WHAT YOU DO IS PRIMARY IN GETTING THINGS DONE USING ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE PRINCIPLES. THE BETTER THE MEANS, THE BETTER AND SURPRISINGLY UNIQUE THE ENDS.
Most people figure if you get it done, and you win or play the musical instrument beautifully, no matter the physical cost, then it’s worth it.
NO PAIN, NO GAIN!
Guess what?
NO PAIN, THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR EXTRAORDINARY GAIN!
