Posts Tagged ‘Banjo Technique’

This ebook, An Alexander Technique Approach to Banjo Technique, is published on this website in a PDF format. It is very detailed and practical, and it will give you the physical tools you need to take the limits off of your ability to create an extraordinarily accurate and kind banjo performance.
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’ve been in the middle of writing a loving affirmation a 100 times a day. I want to stop resisting what is a loving truth about myself, even though my feelings are telling me it is not true. As I’ve been writing, I realized I’m having one heck of a time writing the affirmation over and over using everything I know about posture, tension, and staying with how I’m writing what I’m writing, rather than just trying to get all 100 repetitions done.
It finally dawned on me why I couldn’t write the affirmation over and over with the ease of the trained Alexander Technique teacher, which I am.
IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO WRITE A TRUTH OVER AND OVER WITHOUT PHYSICAL TENSION, IF YOUR MIND AND EMOTIONS ARE RESISTING THE TRUTH OF THE AFFIRMATION.
Then it occurred to me, this is what can happen to a banjo player revamping his or her banjo technique using the principles of the Alexander Technique. If the banjo player is changing the parts of his or her banjo technique and posture that interfere with playing with ease, it may not only be resistance to changing banjo technique and posture creating tension, it may be resistance to what hasn’t been stated about the process, the goal of the changes.
Here is the unstated goal of the dedicated banjo player: IF I MAKE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE POSTURAL AND TECHNIQUE CHANGES TO MY BANJO TECHNIQUE, THE BANJO WILL BECOME EASY, AND I’LL BE ABLE TO PLAY ALL OF THE BANJO’S GREAT MUSIC WITH EASE.
Let me restate this in a very short concise affirmation: IT IS EASY FOR ME TO BE A GREAT BANJO PLAYER! What is your emotional reaction to saying this? I’m guessing it is that Ethan Kind is an idiot! He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. IT JUST AIN’T SO, AND IT NEVER WILL BE SO.
Here is what is happening: If you’re making changes to your banjo technique, wanting to be a great player but not believing it is possible, then the combination of changing how you’ve always played the banjo, in conjunction with believing the banjo will always be a difficult instrument to play, means you’re pulling in conflicting directions.
What’s the solution to letting go of the lie that: IT IS TOO HARD FOR ME TO BE A GREAT BANJO PLAYER?
Make a list of all of the people, mother, father, banjo teacher, etc., that taught you that the banjo was too difficult, and that you didn’t have the talent to be a great banjo player. Write a scathing letter to each of them.
Read the letter or letters out loud only to yourself and then burn it or them. Then write the following affirmation 100 times a day: IT IS EASY FOR ME TO BE A GREAT BANJO PLAYER. Write a truthful response at the end of the first 30 each day, and then finish writing out the 70 left without a response.
Example of the affirmation with a response: It is easy for me to be a great banjo player. Are you an idiot?
Do this for 7 days, and at the end of 7 days sit down and write out the affirmation and how you now feel about it. If you are still resisting the truth of it, then take a couple of days off and begin the process again. Write the letter or letters again to those who taught you the lies you came to believe about your talent and the banjo. Then do the 100 affirmations and responses to the first 30 each day for 7 more days.
YOU ARE GOING TO RUN INTO RESISTANCE, BUT BE WILLING TO FIGHT AS COMPULSIVELY AND LOVINGLY FOR THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU AND THE BANJO, AS YOU DID FOR THE LIES THAT TORTURED YOU FOR YEARS AND YEARS. AS AN INCREDIBLE ACT OF SELF LOVE COMPLETE THE JOURNEY TO THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR TALENT ON THE BANJO.