This ebook, Taking Care of Yourself and Your Students: Alexander Technique Guidelines for the Music Teacher, is published on this website in a PDF format. It is very detailed and practical. It will give you the physical tools you need to take the limits off of your ability to teach with great posture, ease, and comfort.
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 practicing the guitar daily to become a concert guitarist, I never took a day off. The implication was that if I missed a day, somehow I’d go backwards in how well I played.
This was insane!
Athletes training for competitions train hard, but they always build in days off to give their muscles a chance to recuperate and strengthen. (I’m reminded of the guys who work out too hard EVERY day in the gym and never get any bigger or any stronger.)
Rarely have I met a dedicated musical performer who takes time off to let his or her muscles recuperate and strengthen and increase performing stamina.
THE LEARNING AND CONDITIONING TAKES PLACE IN A SPECIALIZED ACTIVITY WHERE THE PERFORMER OR ATHLETE IS PRACTICING AND TRAINING HARD DAILY, WHEN THE PERFORMER OR ATHLETE IS NOT DOING THE ACTIVITY; ESPECIALLY IF HE OR SHE IS MAKING CHANGES TO THEIR TECHNIQUE AND/OR MENTAL APPROACH TO THE ACTIVITY.
When you apply the basic principles of the Alexander Technique to a sport or musical instrument or singing, you are totally revamping how you do the specialized activity.
This is very exhausting in the beginning, because you’re challenging and verifying everything you’ve ever learned about a sport or musical instrument. You’re beginning to move and play with new principles to create an exceptional posture tied to a refined effortless technique.
IN THESE BEGINNING STAGES OF MODIFYING YOUR POSTURE AND TECHNIQUE, BE REALLY GENTLE WITH YOURSELF, AS YOUR POOR POSTURE AND POOR TECHNIQUE PUSH BACK. (Actually it’s your ego resisting changing what has ALMOST worked for you for years, and isn’t anymore.)
Later, when you’ve incorporated the new posture and technique into how you run, play tennis, play a musical instrument, play golf, or sing, IT IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO BUILD IN WEEKS AT A TIME OF NOT TRAINING OR PRACTICING. Why?
Because you want to apply the Alexander Technique principles of great posture and great body use and great technique on an ongoing basis. This means you’re changing, INHIBITING, excess work to find ways to do less and less unnecessary work, to make the sport or the instrument easier and easier.
When you take off a week on a regular basis, you get to fully internalize all of the changes you’re making.
THEN THE SPORT OR INSTRUMENT GETS TO BE AN ONGOING JOY.
