The ribs appeared during the period in evolution when we were fish. And although they weren’t primarily designed for breathing, but rather movement, today they’re also quite crucial for optimal breathing! If the ribs are stiff, we can’t move the lungs to their full capacity. And although we don’t need that ability all the time, we … More Freeing your Ribs
Some people think that we can’t learn as we age – you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. But we humans are different, we can continue learning our whole life. Last week I played the viola d’amore for a St John Passion. For the uninitiated its a violin/viola with 6 or 7 strings, with as many … More Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
Curiosity is innate Curiosity is something we’re born with. It’s one of the 7 emotional patterns we come wired with. It creates our desire to explore, know more, to understand the world around us. Curiosity pushes us to connect, find out more, or see what’s around the corner. It’s what propelled our ancestors to travel … More Curiosity and the Hands
Human’s opposable thumbs are thought to have developed c.2 million years ago during the Homo Habilis time of our evolution. They may have been used for food gathering, and most certainly contributed to the development and use of tools. Our Chimpanzee cousins have opposable toes as well as thumbs, which makes them much better at … More Musicians’ Fingers and Thumbs
You are your primary Instrument… Whether that’s a Strad or a factory violin is up to how you use what you have! All of our technique, whatever we play or sing, boils down on movement: we move ourselves to create music. The less effort and tension we use, the better, and more efficiently, we can bring across to … More Feldenkrais Method for Musicians – Why do it?
If we think about the spine, there are 3 main planes of movement: flexion and extension, (arching-rounding), side-bending, and twisting. I’d like to focus a little about twisting. Twisting is where our power comes from. As upright mammals without massive muscles in our jaws (think crocodiles) or paws- who’d want to be swiped by a … More How easily does your back move?
Looking at Anxiety Part 2 The Neurophysiology of Anxiety Anxiety is created in the brain. Like everything else. As a fear based emotion/response it’s part of the sympathetic-parasympathetic system. The fear response is holistic. (Brain-and-body). Adrenalin gets pumped around the body, and its brain equivalent epinephrine, in the brain. The nervous system includes the brain, … More Improve Anxiety
Our past experience creates the thoughts that we have. It is hard to get rid of limitations of thinking and moving created by our experience. But, whilst our bodies and minds may have limitations, our imagination doesn’t. If we can create freer experiences in our imagination, we can create concrete experiences to follow. To the degree we … More Musicians and Imagination
This week is Mental Health Week, something important to me. As someone who has worked hard to become mentally healthy, and now teaches ways to be healthier to others, I wanted to write a little about anxiety. Last week, I played the violin for an event at my synagogue. Those of you who know me, … More Looking at Anxiety
Last week I was back at school teaching children the violin after the holidays. There’s such a range of personalities, and quirkiness in the children. Some who barely say anything, and those who love to talk. Some who complain, and those who say yes to most things I ask them for. And nearly all of … More Beginners’ mind.
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