It’s easy to think of balance as being able to stand still, or on one leg. It’s a measure, but not necessarily the most useful one. When holding on makes balance harder The last few weeks I’ve been working with a lady who’s had difficulty with her walking. Her fear of falling meant that she’s … More Balance is not a pose
The moment before you move Before you play a note, something has already begun. You imagine the sound, prepare to lift the bow, reach for the keys. But what happens in that moment when the thought becomes an action? It’s easy to miss. Our attention is usually on what comes next: the sound we want, … More How do you begin?
As musicians, we spend a lot of time working on small, precise movements. If something isn’t working, I notice that our attention can narrow to the part that seems to be doing the work: the fingers, the bowing arm, the lips. We might spend a lot of time trying to improve what happens there, without … More Spreading your effort
When we think about good balance, we often picture someone standing on one leg, perfectly still. And if we find that difficult, it’s tempting to try harder: tighten our muscles, hold our breath and concentrate on not moving. But even when we’re standing quietly on two feet, we’re moving. Small shifts of weight and adjustments … More Balance is not a pose
How much effort do you need? As musicians, you’re used to working hard. If something isn’t going well, you practise more, concentrate harder, and try again. Sometimes that’s useful. But sometimes, in trying to get it right, you add more effort than we need, and it can make what you’re doing more difficult. You might notice yourself … More When more is less…
When we’re over-efforting we usually use too much muscle, and both function and musical expression can get squeezed. We can use breathing as a barometer. Breathing is a fundamental function, but it often gets interrupted when you’re nervous or using more effort than you need. This can affect freedom of movement, timing and musical expression. … More Are you holding your breath?
I’m a little in denial about the end of summer. The weather has been glorious, I do love not having to take a cardigan with me. But time moves on, and here we are edging into Autumn. With the school year, September always feels like a new beginning. And of course, it’s also Rosh Hashanah, … More A Feldenkrais reset
How do we balance ourselves, not only in the way we stand over our feet, but in broader life too? How do we balance rest and action, consolidation and moving forwards? And how can you change those things when your current habits don’t serve you well? Firstly it’s about noticing if something is uncomfortable, or needs … More Finding your balance
One of my one-to-one clients, a musician and martial artist, told me recently he thought Feldenkrais was the “key” to many different activities and that its real benefit was in teaching you adaptability. Feldenkrais himself said that health was the ability to move in any direction without preparation or hesitation. He meant this both physically and mentally. … More How balanced are you?
I recently taught a workshop for young musicians and saw something fascinating. At the end of the session I asked them to walk onto the stage again. It was amazing, just after teaching them a few choice short lessons, they told me they felt more confident. And I could see a big change in their … More Do you leave part of yourself backstage?
