Some Thoughts On How The Alexander Technique Can Help Musicians?

How we talk about the Technique is rather important... We could say that lightness and freedom of movement with minimum effort must be a really good objective... ~ Walter Carrington

I have been asked often...

How does the Alexander Technique help musicians?

Here are some ideas that come to mind for me... 

I will write about this in more detail throughout the year as I continue my Alexander teacher training!

Alexander Technique can increase the understanding of  your balance, coordination, poise and freedom of movement throughout your whole self.

Promotes a unified, coordinated and dynamic harmony throughout your whole self.

You can learn to Inhibit habits that interfere with the natural use of your whole self. 

It can teach you to choose how to usefully direct your thoughts and your whole self. 

It is about non- doing, a letting go of any tension and habits that are not necessary for the activity you are doing.

It keeps you in the present!  A good thing for musicians and all people :-).

It helps to prevent injury.

It is a “technique” that teaches how you think and how you are in the present is more important than focusing on the end result or “end- gaining”. That being in the present will get you farther in the end!

The Alexander Technique principals can give you more possibility for potential movement, moment by moment.       It is the opposite of being “locked” into your movement.

Creates and restores conscious connections and choice throughout whole self.  So you can make active choices about your own use, directing your thoughts into a unified awareness. 

Increases consistency and awareness, which can boost self-confidence and help to alleviate performance anxiety. 

Teaches that the Body... Whole Self, All Senses (including your brain)... is the Principal Instrument.

Helps to create balance, poise and an expressive ease of organic movement. Great for practice and essential for a great performance!

Encourages and Restores a trust and freeing into the intrinsic, inherent, original support, the “primary control” of your body’s whole system. 

The head leads up and the whole body responds dynamically, sequentially to any and all movement. 

It helps you to find a good combination of effort, support, ease and balance for playing your instrument, for making music. 

Good use of the whole body helps in creating an ease and fluidity in your breathing.

Health and ease of the body and mind, spirit... interconnection and wholeness. 

It is a gentle, encouraging, restorative, hands on and verbal process that you are active in and also non active. 

It acknowledges and softens your fears offering you another way to think and move into authenticity & integrity.

Here are the Alexander Type of Directions and Active Rest to help you!

www.creativeflutist.com© 2011 Jennifer Keeney