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
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 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?
When musicians think about improving their playing, the pelvis isn’t usually the first place they look. We tend to focus on more direct connections to either instrument or voice. For many of us, the pelvis is simply somewhere to sit, or a place we only notice if it becomes uncomfortable. Yet it’s quietly involved in … More The secret life of the pelvis
I’ve been noticing how differently people move in warm weather. Warmth often allows muscles to soften. There can be a sense of languidness (a word that always makes me think of the slow movement of Summer from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons). But we don’t always relax. Sometimes we tighten somewhere else instead. If breathing feels a little harder in … More Is core strength enough?
As you know I’m a violist, and recently a colleague referred a teenage violinist to me. Some of my favourite work (I like it all) is combining music making with Feldenkrais. So I’ve been enjoying working with her. What’s in the self image? In her lesson I observed her playing a little. I noticed that … More If you feel it, you can change it
So how supple are your ankles? Can you draw the alphabet with your feet? Try a few letters, use your big toe on the floor. How clear are they? When I was a child, I spent a lot of time in plaster casts post leg operations. One physio exercise I was often given was to … More Connecting the ankle
How good is your self image of your feet? How much of your feet can you feel? Close your eyes, choose a foot, and sense each toe in turn. What happens in the middle? You can probably easily feel your big toe, and the 2nd. Often then it gets a little hazy. Right?That 3rd toe doesn’t necessarily have … More Strong Legs
