As musicians, we’re so good at listening to others, to our instruments, to sounds around us, but how good are you at listening to physical yourself? To your body?Any movement lessons require a level of listening that allows you to move, but not strain. This is especially important when we’re thinking about learning. When we … More Freeing the Neck
I’ve always loved owls. And the way they can swivel their head to see behind them in a moment. It would be very useful in lots of scenarios! As you probably know, an owl can turn its head 180 degrees because of the double jointed neck. And we don’t have one of those, which is sad. … More Would you like to have the turning power of an owl?
Do you think of your neck as a separate, or as part of your whole spine? This week’s lesson is looking again at how you might stick out your neck, but from a different angle! We’ll be doing the lesson in sitting. The position change means you’ll explore different options of movement, gravity, and sensation. Your … More How Long is Your Neck?
Draw a tiny circle in the air with your nose. As you do it feel which parts of you move along with it? For many people, the only thing that moves is the head and neck. If that’s true for you, it’s the signal that your neck is over isolated. You’re not using the support of the whole … More Do you know how to find out if your neck is stiff or uncomfortable because your spine isn’t helping it move?
One thing that often changes is the breathing. I was performing a concert this evening. The sensation of playing on stage was very different from the rehearsal in the afternoon. I wasn’t particularly nervous myself, so I was asking myself what feels different and why? I did a self scan: a technique I’ve learnt in … More What’s different for you when you’re on stage, compared to in the practice room?
What if it’s not really useful to breathe into the belly? When they tell you to breathe into the belly, most people actually mean diaphragmatic breathing. Belly breathing is a version of it at least: to access the lengthening of the lungs as well as outward expansion. But that’s not always the only effect. The … More Belly breathing: A hidden cause of back pain?
Since becoming a Feldenkrais teacher, now a decade ago, I’ve become more and more fascinated with our anatomy. We’re so fortunate to have access in our digital world to teachers all around the world. I’ve been particularly taken with the dissection work of Gill Hedley. And took some time in the preparation of these lessons … More Ribs and the Intercostals: A team in the movement of breathing and moving
Some of you may aware of tension in their torso, (which is made of the many bones of the ribcage). but many have forgotten what having a comfortable, supple ribcage feels like. A flexible chest allows healthy movement through your whole body, and improves your ability to breathe. Your ribs are designed for flexibility. With 12 pairs, … More Why should you care about freedom in your ribs?
For many musicians, breath is thought of as fuel: the more you inhale, the more you have to give. It might seem logical to “take a big breath” before a demanding phrase or passage. More air should mean more sound? Yet this pursuit of volume often makes breathing harder, not easier. The act of trying … More The Myth of the Big Breath
This week I was teaching anatomy around the arm. You might be amused to know that the funny bone, the very end of the elbow isn’t actually the humerus bone! Like many, I used to think it was. But the pointy bit of your elbow is actually the ulna. That’s one of forearm bones that runs … More How funny is the funny bone?
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