Sold on the Feldenkrais Method

I ran across a blog tip from MaryBeth Smith, a voice teacher in Houston, TX about the benefits of the FM. Here’s the link: Sold on the Feldenkrais Method

Although this may not seem to directly relate to musicians, it does fact have very much to do with the process of making music. As stated in the article, “...the nervous system is often the forgotten element in physical training:  when we move and train our bodies without awareness, without new stimulus, we wind up reinforcing old patterns. We're driving with the emergency brake on. Corrective resistance exercise, which trains primarily muscle tissue, is the long way around. Feldenkrais targets primarily the brain and nervous system, which is infinitely adaptable and can elicit change almost instantly.”

We could change this to say that the nervous system is often forgotten in music training and that practicing without awareness can reinforce old habits, i.e. mistakes. These mistakes may not take the form of missing notes but in overusing or straining our bodies. This overuse may not be apparent right from the onset, but begin to show its effects later after many years of practicing and performing.

Doing Feldenkrais Method Awareness Through Movement lessons, as also stated, can provide the musician with a great deal of benefit away from the instrument. In this last quote we just need to replace athlete with musician: “I think there's a lot of potential in this kind of work:  not only to heal injury and correct poor function, but also to help us find the equivalent of the athlete's 'zone' of relaxed readiness in everyday life and in athletic activities as well.”

Enjoy the weekend and thanks to MaryBeth Smith for the tip.

And...

Be sure to check out the DMS podcasts, Feldenkrais mini lessons for musicians and speakers as well as "The Dynamic Musician Series: Dynamic Stability and Breath Volumes 1 & 2"

From iTunes
or direct

If you have any specific questions or comments on breathing and posture, send me an e-mail and I’ll try to respond in a future blog. Until then, breathe, sit and stand well!

Comments

[stacy barrows]

I am so glad that you had a chance to view Andrew's blog, he was a most wonderful student and had a lot of enthusiasm at the Feldenkrais for Fitness class. Since then, he has shown interest in Feldenkrais trainings and hopefully we will see him as a future colleague. please refer to http://feldypt.blogspot.com/ for more.
Stacy
http://www.californiaeducationconnection.com/

[John Tarr]

Hello Stacy,

His post was really nice and concise. You must be doing a great job teaching.

All the best,

John