This ebook, Musical Performance and Letting Go of the Beliefs that Limit You, is published in a PDF format. It is written to give all performing musicians deep insights into the beliefs and bad 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)
THERE IS SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARILY UPLIFTING, WHEN YOU’RE EXCEPTIONAL AT A SPORT OR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DO WHAT YOU DO WITH GREAT EASE. THIS MEANS YOU RUN, OR PLAY GOLF, OR SING, OR PLAY THE PIANO, AND THESE ACTIVITIES COME TO YOU EASILY.
I’m not talking about the process of becoming extraordinary at an activity, which for some may take a whole lot more training or practice than for others.
I’m talking about what it means to arrive at internal greatness in a sport or on a musical instrument, knowing 24/7 that you can count on yourself to play wonderfully or run effortlessly fast.
How does this effect your sense of self-worth, your self-esteem, your sense of peace?
EXTRAORDINARILY!!!
In the title of this essay I use the word Unconsciously great in an activity. What I’m saying here is there is something extraordinarily uplifting about being great at something that can sustain a person 24/7, and this doesn’t have to be conscious 24/7.
It becomes an ongoing part of who you are!
When I found my way to effortless accuracy on the guitar after 15 years of grinding and fearful practicing, it felt so good.
From that revelatory moment on, whenever I I thought about the guitar, I felt the amazing feeling that accuracy was a breeze for me. Until that revelatory moment, whenever I thought about the guitar, there were moments of dread about how well I would play when I sat down to practice.
In retrospect, when that happened, I did not feel good about myself or the instrument, and I forced myself to stop thinking about the guitar.
I BECAME UNCONSCIOUSLY FRIGHTENED AND FEARFUL WHEN I DOUBTED MY ABILITY ON THE GUITAR, SO I WAS “UNCONSCIOULY” NOT FEELING VERY GOOD ABOUT MYSELF.
When you do something wonderfully, it can become a window into healing in yourself what needs healing. But, the problem is we humans are very good at compartmentalizing. This means we glom onto what we’re extraordinary at, and feel good whenever we think of golf or the guitar. But being great at something doesn’t sustain us like it could, because the rest of our life isn’t as loving or enlightened.
In “Zen in the Art of Archery” by Eugen Herrigel, hitting the bullseye is a spiritual practice. This means you use archery to allow your higher self to hit the bullseye. This means you hit the bullseye effortlessly through your higher self, and archery brings your whole life wellbeing and peace.
This means you treat yourself and others with love and respect. If you compartmentalize your greatness at running or playing a violin, then you only may find peace when you do or think about and feel these activities, and not be so kind to yourself or others otherwise.
SO, LET YOUR GREATNESS AND EASE IN YOUR SPORT OR ON YOUR INSTRUMENT BE THE ZEN OF CELLO PLAYING OR THE ZEN OF SOCCER PLAYING, AND LET THESE ACTIVITIES HEAL YOUR WHOLE BEING.
What does all of the above have to do with the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique gives you the physical tools to experience ease and facility at your sport or instrument.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO PLAY EFFORTLESSLY, BECAUSE AN ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE TEACHER SHOWS YOU THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFORTLESS TECHNIQUE POSSIBLE IN RUNNING OR PLAYING THE PIANO.
THIS MAKES THE REVELATORY MOMENT OF GREAT SPEED AND PRECISION WITH EASE POSSIBLE.
