Feldenkrais for Musicians
Body Awareness Training for Instrumentalists and Singers
Just like an instrument, the human body also has to be tuned. Our music is an aural reflection of everything that our breathing, elasticity, flow of movement, coordination and dynamic posture permit at any given moment; it goes without saying, therefore, that instrumentalists as well as singers need to be aware of these factors when considering both their sound and their interpretation.
The Feldenkrais Method helps musicians to find effective strategies for explaining and optimising their actions, which results in differentiated sound production, dexterity of technique and flexible posture, consequently enabling artists to access their own creative potential.
“Improvement of talented people comes through their awareness of themselves in action. Their talent arises from their freedom to choose their modes of action.” (Moshé Feldenkrais)
The Feldenkrais Method
The Feldenkrais Method’s unique approach to movement and posture targets problems and complaints by nurturing the client’s individual potential and physical capability, thus contributing to personal growth. The goal is to develop and fine-tune an awareness for our actions, in the first instance expanding the range of possibilities at our disposal, and subsequently optimising the ability to recall and select them appropriately.
This leads to an improved sound and a more precise technique that are in harmony with the whole body; consequently, problems that arise through prolonged periods of playing, or simply from the posture necessary for holding the instrument, can be prevented and/or treated. The release from inhibitive postural patterns and the reorganisation of movement procedures leads to relaxation and physical relief.
The Feldenkrais Method is particularly suitable for musicians because it pursues the same high level of differentiation and precise physical application necessary for singing or playing an instrument. It is named after the nuclear physicist Dr. Moshé Feldenkrais, who developed it according to the principles of anatomy, physiology, neurology, developmental psychology, physics, mechanics and cybernetics.
With the Feldenkrais Method you can …
- improve your performance
- improve your intonation
- become more confident in your technique
- improve your sound and expand your repertoire of timbres
- call up different instrumental, vocal and breathing techniques more flexibly and implement them effortlessly
- learn to adapt your posture, both dynamically and according to situation, and thus feel more self-assured
- relax and relieve tension by fully exploiting the skeleton, gravity and the relationships within the musculoskeletal system when working with your instrument
- achieve a heightened awareness of your body while playing/singing that enables you to expand your freedom of movement, experience a higher level of differentiation and exploit your own potential more effectively
- optimise your ability to recall different alternatives
- improve your breathing and coordination
- prevent and correct postural defects (Musicians’ Health)
- Certified Feldenkrais practitioner with a sound education and extensive advanced training
- Self-employed Feldenkrais practitioner since 2000
- Contract teacher and guest lecturer for Feldenkrais at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg
General Information on Simone Irmer and the Feldenkrais Method can be found here: www.feldenkrais-practice.com