THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
MUSICIANS AND THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
Some fingers (no doubt because of too much writing and playing in earlier years) have become quite weak, so that I can hardly use them. - from the 1839 biographical notes of Robert Schumann, pianist and composer
In 1988, the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians surveyed orchestral musicians and found from the 2,212 respondents that 76 percent had a significant medical problem that affected their ability to play.
Listen to an MP3 interview about the usefulness of the Alexander Technique for Musicians
The Alexander Technique has a long history of helping instrumentalists and singers to perform with less stress and likelihood of injury. Musicians do some of the most complex and demanding physical movements of any profession. In recent years, the term Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) has come into popular use, but musicians have always had to face the challenge of performing the same complex muscular actions over and over again.
By helping musicians improve the quality of the physical movements involved in playing an instrument or singing, the Alexander Technique also helps improve the quality of the music itself. A violinist's stiff shoulders and arms will get in the way of a pleasing sound; a singer's tight neck or jaw will cause the voice to become less resonant. By helping musicians release undue tension in their bodies, the Alexander Technique makes possible a performance which is more fluid and lively, less tense and rigid.
Over the years, a number of prominent musicians have publicly endorsed the Alexander Technique: Yehudi Menuhin, Paul McCartney, Sting, Julian Bream, James Galwayand the conductor Sir Adrian Boult, to name but a few.
The Technique is taught at the Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York, The Royal College of Music in London, The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and at many other schools of music, universities and colleges.
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Click on the links below for Alexander Technique Resources for Musicians
Information of General Interest to all Musicians
Information of Special Interest to Singers and Singing Teachers
Information of Special Interest to Violinists
Information of Special Interest to Pianists
Information of Special Interest to Guitarists
Information of Special Interest to Oboists
Information of Special Interest to Flutists
Information of General Interest to all Musicians
(For the most part, these articles present clearly-written, basic introductions. They come from different perspectives on the topic and it will probably be useful to take a look at a number of them.)
Poise in Performance: The Alexander Technique for Musicians
The Alexander Technique - A Technique for Musicians
Marshalling Your Body's Intelligence - Alexander Technique for Musicians
The Alexander Technique and Musicians
The Alexander Technique and the Professional Musician
A Musician's Journey with the Alexander Technique
Musicians and the Alexander Technique
A Musician's Journal Into Wellness
Musicians and the Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique: The Skill to Make Music
The Alexander Technique and Musicians
An Introduction to the Alexander Technique
Alexander Technique and the Musician
Working with Musicians and the Alexander Technique
Three Musicians Talk About the Alexander Technique
Three Musicians Continue Their Talk About the Alexander Technique
Three Musicians Conclude Their Talk About the Alexander Technique
What is the Difference Between the Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais Method?
Andover Educators: What every musician needs to know about their body
The Effect of Lessons in the Alexander Technique on Music Performance
The Alexander Music School in Southern Spain
Information of Special Interest to Singers and Singing Teachers
Singers, Singing Teachers and the Alexander Technique
Using the Alexander Technique in Voice Therapy
Curing Voice Problems with the Alexander Technique
Voice Work in the Alexander Technique (pdf file)
Breathing, Mother of Rhythm (pdf file)
Stage Fright: What it is and What to do About It
Information of Special Interest to Violinists
The Violinist's Guide to the Alexander Technique
A Violinist's Experience with the Alexander Technique
Information of Special Interest to Pianists
Why I Study the Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique and Piano
Two Means to Freedom and Ease: The Taubman Approach and the Alexander Technique
Information of Special Interest to Guitarists
Information of Special Interest to Oboists
Oboe Woes - Challenges Facing the Oboist
Information of Special Interest to Flutists
Teaching Flute Lessons with Alexander Principles
Information of Special interest to Accordionists
Alexander Technique and the Playing of the Accordion
Information of Special Interest to Cellists
There are a number of books about the Alexander Technique of special interest to musicians. Short descriptions and information about ordering these books can be found by clicking on either:
Alexander Technique Bookstore(USA) in Association with AMAZON.COM BOOKS
Alexander Technique Bookshop(UK) in Association with AMAZON.CO.UK BOOKS
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