Exploring the Connection Between Tension, Voice, and Expression Sound is, at its essence, the oscillation or vibration of air. It travels through space as waves, ripples set in motion by something moving. When we speak, sing, or play an instrument, we’re the source of that movement. The quality of our sound is directly influenced by … More How Much of You Vibrates When You Make Sound?
Witnessing the work with mothers and babies during the Child’space training in Palermo recently was such a pleasure. My knowledge of children’s songs came in useful, and I can now sing “If you’re happy and you know it” in Italian. Interestingly the tune is a little different to ours! Music plays a big part in Child’space, and … More Self image and movement
This week I’m in very hot and humid Palermo on another segment of ChildSpace – a Feldenkrais based course on early child development. It’s great to have a change of scene, (and great coffee), and to be surrounded by some lovely colleagues. The work is really beautiful, and uses play as a base to observe … More Variation for Learning
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?
The last week since coming back from Holland has sped past. I wanted to write a little about my experiences. After my travel disaster, (my passport whilst valid, was over 10 years old. Since 2018, this is no longer valid for the EU. And I only found out the day before my flight. Which meant … More What are your limits?
This week, I’m getting ready for a trip to the Netherlands, where I’ll be presenting a session called Feldenkrais in Practice at the ESTA (European String Teachers Association) conference. Each year, ESTA chooses a theme—and this time, it aligns beautifully with the Feldenkrais approach: From the Inside – Out. My presentation is based on a 4-week course I … More How long is short enough for a new practice?
How do you respond when you reach your limits? I was teaching some of my small (6 year old) violin pupils this week how to synchronise the finger notes together with the bowing. It’s one of the trickiest transitions, as you put two things together that a beginner might still find tricky. The difference in … More What are your limits?
This week I gave a workshop on stage presence for a lovely group of A-level students in Saffron Walden. I didn’t make it over in person, I did it online, but it was great to see the changes in how they sat and moved, even by the end of their short session! We talked about … More Plant the seed of your somatic change
These last few weeks I’ve been thinking about emotions as I grieve, how we hold onto them, or allow them to pass through us. I’ve noticed when I’ve been holding myself “up” or “together”, and finding that it isn’t very useful. What’s been more useful has been to let go of those holding patterns, along … More Holding Grief
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?
Transform how you move, feel and live 