Full Description
Every musician is an athlete. Athletes hone their bodies, coordinate their reflexes, and train their minds seeking to perfect a balance of strength, skills, and agility. Complicated, demanding, and repetitious movements often result in unnatural and difficult positions which put instrumentalists at risk of injury. However, when movement and task are coordinated well and freely, the athlete-instrumentalists find themselves in "the zone" or "the flow," a magical place where art and athleticism meet.
The Feldenkrais Method is a movement-based self-discovery process that aims for performance with minimum effort and maximum efficiency, thus reducing the chance of injury and even helping speed up recovery time from an injury. Samuel H. Nelson and Elizabeth L. Blades provide a guide to the Feldenkrais Method tailored specifically for instrumentalists. The book includes many "Awareness Through Movement" lessons and activities as well as case studies and examples specific to different instrument types.
Contents
Title Page
Acknowledgements
Online Supplement
OverviewSelf Image and Kinesthetic ImaginationPhysics of Easy MovementNeuroplasticityThe Cost of Choice, Intention and, The Power of HabitThe Base of SupportPelvic PowerBreathingUpper Trunk FlexibilityShoulder Girdle and ArmsHead and NeckHands and MouthThe EyesBonus LessonsPerspectives from InstrumentalistsAppendix A: Functional IntegrationAppendix B: ATM Lessons and Areas of Major ImpactAbout the Authors
