This ebook, The Alexander Technique Applied to the Technique and Posture of 29 Western Musical Instruments, is published in a PDF format. It is a detailed introduction to and application of the principles of the Alexander Technique to 29 of the most played instruments in the symphonies, chamber music groups, and as solo instruments from the Western culture, classical and other styles. Included in the 29 are singing and conducting.
This ebook is also for sale on all AMAZON websites in a KINDLE format.
Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. (MOVEMENT THERAPY)
IF YOU’RE LUCKY, YOU WILL COME A POINT IN YOUR SPECIALIZED ACTIVITY, RUNNING OR PIANO PLAYING OR PAINTING, WHEN YOU CAN’T DO WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS DONE, OR YOU WILL BADLY INJURE YOURSELF AND HAVE TO QUIT.
I call this the tipping point, thus the title of this essay.
It’s at this point that the musician or athlete or painter will seek professional help, an Alexander Technique teacher, physical therapist, or bodyworker.
This essay is about what a person does at this tipping point. Do seek out help or not seek out help? If seek out help, do you listen to the therapist and revamp your posture and technique, so you stop damaging your body?
If you don’t seek out help or do seek out help and don’t make the necessary physical changes, what is this about? This the focus of this essay.
If you seek out an Alexander Technique teacher and don’t make the necessary changes, to me, this is the same as not finding someone who can help.
I’m wring this essay as a certified Alexander Teacher who has helped athletes and musicians and artists create a new posture and technique that works, does not wear out the body and end careers.
So, for the rest of this essay, I’ll be writing from the perspective of being an Alexander Technique teacher, and from the perspective of someone who has done an incredible amount of psychotherapy and self-analytical journaling.
Do you tip or not tip when your body has reached a point in your sport, on your instrument, or in painting, that if you do what you’ve done, you will permanently damage your body and have to stop?
I’m going to make an an assumption here, that if you do what you need to do heal your body, and do what you do with great technique and posture, that is the sane thing, self-loving thing to do.
But, what if you choose to do what you’ve always done, and thus end your sport, or instrument playing, or painting in intolerable pain?
What is this about?
THE WAY YOU’VE ALWAYS DONE YOUR SPORT, PLAYED YOUR INSTRUMENT, OR PAINTED DOES ITSELF. IT IS EASY TO DO WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS DONE, BECAUSE YOUR DESTRUCTIVE TECHNIQUE AND POSTURE DOES ITSELF, IS TOTALLY HABITUAL AND WORKS, ALBEIT POORLY.
I’ve talked about this in earlier essays. I’d like to look at the choice not to save your body, meaning you will eventually not be able to continue doing your beloved specialized activity.
If you choose not to tip over into a body saving posture and technique, which the Alexander Technique offers you, then your sport, or instrument, or painting may have RUN IT’S COURSE.
As, an Alexander Technique teacher, I’d love to help you get out of physical trouble, but if you aren’t going to come to me or listen to me, it may be time to be honest with yourself and quit before you do permanent physical damage.
IT WOULD BE AN EXTRAORDINARY ACT OF SELF-LOVE TO QUIT YOUR INSTRUMENT OR SPORT OR PAINTING, IF THE THRILL IS GONE, AS B B KING SUNG ABOUT.
