The alexander technique, named after its creator frederick matthias alexander, is an educational process that was created to retrain habitual patterns of movement and posture. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. An alexander technique approach to violin technique kindle edition by kind, ethan. The aim of the alexander technique is to help you unlearn these bad habits and achieve a balanced, more naturally aligned body. In all walks of life this misuse is going to have a negative impact, both physically and mentally, but as a pianist it is at the piano where i most often have shown back to me what needs to change. Eirian lewis impact of alexander on learning a musical instrument. Alexander also attracted several important new pupils, including the statesman victor bulwerlytton, 2nd earl of lytton who drew public attention to the technique in the times educational supplement, the initially skeptical writer anthony ludovici who went on to praise alexanders approach in a book, and the industrialist robert dudley best who.
Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The technique is often used by performers to help with tension, injury or performance anxiety issues. The violin and viola are the only western instruments to be tucked under the chin. People think the alexander technique is about posture. Ethan kinds most popular book is an alexander technique approach to cello technique. Body mapping was conceived by alexander technique instructor william conable who also happened to be a cellist. An alexander technique approach to violin technique. The book referenced by anne is called the alexander technique for violinists, and the goal of it is to help violinists to play painfree. Born in budapest, hungary, he graduated from the franz liszt. Famous alexander technique pupils this list represents just some of the famous people who are happy to acknowledge that they have learned the alexander technique. Whether you tend to get a stiff neck when you play the violin or paint a ceiling or look into a microscope, or lower back pain from working long hours at a desk, the alexander technique.
I found the alexander technique after experiencing some. This book was designed and developed to help classroom string teachers. Principles of violin playing and teaching by ivan galamian, playing less hurt. There is a tremendous wealth of material covered here. Why i prefer body mapping to alexander technique rdv. As a violinist this is the best book on the alexander technique i have ever read i ve read nearly all of them. Famous alexander technique pupils hilary king, mstat. Ariel weiss teaches private lessons, ongoing group classes and workshops for students of all ages and levels of experience. Alexander technique at the academy is partly financed by a fund established by lady colin davis shamsi davis one of the academys teachers until her death in 2010 and the late sir colin davis, and therefore we offer individual lessons to our students free of charge. He lives in paris and new york, and he travels the world giving seminars and master classes. A violinists experience with the alexander technique.
I teach using my own method, developed through the experience in alexander technique, yoga, kinesiology, and other healing arts, in combination with my classical violin training at the music academy and 25 years of experience in teaching the violin. On how alexander technique can enhance learning and performance under pressure by noa kageyama, ph. About paul rolland paul rolland string pedagogy workshop. This is why there is considerable overlap and similarites between alexander technique and body mapping. Old new worlds, an extensive essay on the program of my cd of 20thcentury music for cello and piano. The connecticut center for the alexander technique. Alexander technique philadelphia, philadelphia, pa. Call me for a chat about alexander technique or text me to book a lesson on 0770 321 9182. The alexander technique at is a method for getting rid of unwanted postural habits and movement patterns that interfere with smooth performancenot just performance on stage, but also in living our lives. A skill for life, and the childrens novels befiddled and backtracked. Ive given there the most important topics like how to learn to play the violin correctly, how to master beautiful vibrato, philosophy of playing the violin, how to get rid of stage fright and of course how to.
Alexander technique clinically proven back pain relief. The antigravity response of the wellfunctioning human organism. The alexander technique for musicians kingfisher readers. How to practice the baroque violin with alexander technique. Letting go of neck strain with the alexander technique duration. We have talked before on this forum about unnecessary tensing while playing. The book, dance and the alexander technique, does a lovely job of integrating information around dance training, developmental movement, and alexander technique. The following is an extract from a longer article in the strad december 2017 to read it in full, download the issue on desktop computer or via the the strad app, or buy the print edition. Natural playing on violin and viola, inspired by the.
Click here for a variety of videos, audio resources, articles and blogs related to constructive rest. Effective violin lessons based on the shonert technique i give both inperson prague, czech republic and online lessons. The alexander technique and the string pedagogy of paul. Expressive techniques for orchestra violin kathleen deberry brungard, michael alexander, sandra dackow, gerald e. More alexander technique books at the alexander technique bookstore usa. Complementary therapies in nursing and midwifery, 71, 18. I prefer to work with advanced students but i am able to teach advanced beginners after one year of playing the violin as well. Buy the book to learn to play the violin violin virtuoso alexander. The authors give a concise history and background of f. Natural playing on violin and viola, inspired by the alexander. I started seeing improvement after my first lesson with sylvia who is a wonderful and very experienced teacher.
The authors of this book competently address the issue of what percentage natural ability or talent contributes to the expertise equation verses determination and deliberate practice. Fundamentals of upper string playing and the alexander technique. Combine bespoke equipment changes with alexander technique input to produce efficient and coordinated movement that. Alexander technique and ta violists experience with the. Alexander believed that poor habits in posture and movement damaged spatial selfawareness as well as health, and that movement efficiency could support overall physical wellbeing. This list also illustrates a few of the activities to which the alexander technique may be applied, beyond the.
Alexander technique lessons are handson, giving the student specific feedback in the moment on how they are moving and preparing to move, as well as guiding the student through a different experience of movement than they are used to. Randomized controlled trial of the alexander technique for. Within music lessons ive created cello and violin routines that build freedom of movement as part of the students music lesson, and if an instrumental technique or musical phrasing. Im available for alexander technique lessons and i work with all ages and see wonderful results.
Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. A biography of paul rolland is also included, noting that rolland was a proponent of the alexander technique. Reading list suzuki violin and alexander technique. To learn to play the violin, provide your child with an atmosphere surrounded by music. The book is filled with games and exercises to clarify each highly detailed, carefully illustrated step. Books by ethan kind author of an alexander technique. Jeanlouis rodrigue and kristof konrad are the team that make up alexander techworks. The rhythmic, aesthetic, and other expressive judgements we make, whilst practising and performing have their basis in our habitual co. When you practise these exercises, make sure that your breathing is continuous and that you are well grounded, with flexible knees, relaxed gluteal muscles and an awareness of your feet on the floor. A member of the new york philharmonic for more than 40 years, evangeline is widely recognized as a performer, educator, clinician and teacher of the cello and the alexander technique. The secrets from the new science of expertise by eric andersson and robert pool is a glimpse into the mindset of the worlds most successful individuals and the process by which they achieve their greatness. Her innovative methods focus on achieving efficient movement for musical results.
During lessons, players are given the opportunity to try out a variety of chin rest designs, including randy olsons wave chin rest, the kreddle, gary frisch and lynne denigs chin rest fitting kit, and the sas chin rest. As the alexander technique gives violinists and violists a more refined. Anne 1943 had mentioned the alexander technique and davidb asked about it so i thought i would give it its own thread. Tutor alla petrichei has more than 5 years of international teaching experience and 18 years of performing experience as soloist. From this brief description of the technique it should be evident that what is being advocated is not just one more method for playing the violin. You can buy an electronic version of the book of playing technique on the violin advanced violin techniques, vol. The alexander technique is taught by a qualified teacher in onetoone lessons. Alexander technique lying down, sometimes called constructive rest or active rest is a powerful selfhelp process anyone can do at home.
Learn how to release pain through exploration of the activities where you feel your movement or freedom is limited. A violinist having a short alexander technique lesson french, with english. Lori schiff in an alexander technique session at the juilliard school. Buy the book to learn to play the violin violin virtuoso. I teach alexander within cello and violin lessons, and to students who have full length alexander lessons focusing on many different activities and concerns. Evangeline benedetti, cellist and teacher welcome to the. Luke challinor considering the alexander technique when studying the viola da gamba. But actually it is about our use, or most often misuse of the self. I offer chin rest fittings as part of alexander technique lessons for violinists and violists. For somebody who has left the music profession but remains involved with the violin and music at many levels, the alexander technique can be both an inspiring and a depressing experience. Development and science of the alexander technique, mouritz, london, 1997. Lessons often take place in a studio, clinic or the teachers house and usually last 30 to 45 minutes. They are internationally known as two of the most sought after acting coaches, performance experts, and movement teachers collectively teaching the alexander. An alexander technique approach to violin technique kindle.
Paul rolland 19111978, professor of violin at the university of illinois and one of the founders of the american string teachers association, is internationally renowned for his approach to string teaching. Effective violin lessons courses, lessons and books by. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Find the most suitable violin chin rest and shoulder rest that give you comfort and ease when playing.
A good combination read is any book by jeremy chance my main teacher. Alexander technique teach concrete skills of movement and posture that give students the tools they need to change their posture and movement habits. Learn the violin easier with a holistic approach using all your senses. As alexander technique practitioners have discovered, many upperstring players frequently raise their shoulder and hold it tense even with current models of shoulder rests and they also use their neck and head to supply a matching pressure on the chin rest from above in order to maintain their instrument at the best level and angle for playing. One might say that alexander technique is a method by which a person is taught to reestablish the fullycoordinated working of the mindbody complex. Working to principle, an essay about the basics of daily practice, published in my book the alexander technique. Alexander self study made even easier tips for a student of the alexander technique. Forward and up, a general introduction to the alexander technique. Technique while trying to find relief from increasingly severe neck and shoulder pain that i had while playing the violin. How to hold a violin or viola without tensing up how to play the violin or viola duration.
For somebody who has left the music profession but remains involved with the violin and music at many levels, the alexander technique can be both an inspiring. Alexander technique in windsor, maidenhead, berkshire. How the alexander technique can help musicians basic. Because the technique is concerned, with the person as a whole, the alexander teacher is attempting to improve the basic coordination to the point where the specialist knowledge of the violinist can. The alexander technique and violin and viola shouder rest. Research studies on the alexander technique were initiated by frank pierce jones at the tufts institute for psychological research during the 1960s and 70s. The alexander technique and the profound, simple understandings that it embraces can help transform potential and help release musicality at any level of accomplishment. William shephard mstat member of the society of teachers of the alexander technique. The alexander technique and the string pedagogy of paul rolland. This book polishes off the left hand technique needed to join a youth orchestra program. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading an alexander technique approach to violin technique. Piano playing and the alexander technique the crosseyed. Alexander, raymond dart, and their own personal training and teaching approaches to dance. Introductory alexander technique classes suzuki violin.