I offer chin rest fittings as part of alexander technique lessons for violinists and violists. There is a tremendous wealth of material covered here. The alexander technique for musicians kingfisher readers. I prefer to work with advanced students but i am able to teach advanced beginners after one year of playing the violin as well. Development and science of the alexander technique, mouritz, london, 1997. As the alexander technique gives violinists and violists a more refined. 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. Fundamentals of upper string playing and the alexander technique. The alexander technique and the string pedagogy of paul.
Technique while trying to find relief from increasingly severe neck and shoulder pain that i had while playing the violin. People think the alexander technique is about posture. Luke challinor considering the alexander technique when studying the viola da gamba. 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. 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 string pedagogy of paul rolland. The connecticut center for the alexander technique. Natural playing on violin and viola, inspired by the. Reading list suzuki violin and alexander technique. How to hold a violin or viola without tensing up how to play the violin or viola duration. To learn to play the violin, provide your child with an atmosphere surrounded by music.
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. The aim of the alexander technique is to help you unlearn these bad habits and achieve a balanced, more naturally aligned body. About paul rolland paul rolland string pedagogy workshop. Alexander technique philadelphia, philadelphia, pa. The book referenced by anne is called the alexander technique for violinists, and the goal of it is to help violinists to play painfree. Ethan kind has 64 books on goodreads with 87 ratings. Complementary therapies in nursing and midwifery, 71, 18. The antigravity response of the wellfunctioning human organism. Combine bespoke equipment changes with alexander technique input to produce efficient and coordinated movement that. 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. Buy the book to learn to play the violin violin virtuoso.
The authors give a concise history and background of f. This is why there is considerable overlap and similarites between alexander technique and body mapping. The alexander technique is taught by a qualified teacher in onetoone lessons. 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. This book polishes off the left hand technique needed to join a youth orchestra program. As a violinist this is the best book on the alexander technique i have ever read i ve read nearly all of them. This book was designed and developed to help classroom string teachers.
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. How to practice the baroque violin with alexander technique. 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. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading an alexander technique approach to violin technique. He lives in paris and new york, and he travels the world giving seminars and master classes. Eirian lewis impact of alexander on learning a musical instrument.
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. Alexander technique and ta violists experience with the. Many violinists struggle with habits that make playing less enjoyable than it might be. 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. Call me for a chat about alexander technique or text me to book a lesson on 0770 321 9182. A skill for life, and the childrens novels befiddled and backtracked. A violinists experience with the alexander technique. Born in budapest, hungary, he graduated from the franz liszt. Anne 1943 had mentioned the alexander technique and davidb asked about it so i thought i would give it its own thread. 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.
Natural playing on violin and viola, inspired by the alexander. Expressive techniques for orchestra violin kathleen deberry brungard, michael alexander, sandra dackow, gerald e. Principles of violin playing and teaching by ivan galamian, playing less hurt. An alexander technique approach to violin 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. 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. Body mapping was conceived by alexander technique instructor william conable who also happened to be a cellist. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Lori schiff in an alexander technique session at the juilliard school. One might say that alexander technique is a method by which a person is taught to reestablish the fullycoordinated working of the mindbody complex. 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. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. 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.
The technique is often used by performers to help with tension, injury or performance anxiety issues. Tutor alla petrichei has more than 5 years of international teaching experience and 18 years of performing experience as soloist. Alexander self study made even easier tips for a student of the alexander technique. 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. 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. On how alexander technique can enhance learning and performance under pressure by noa kageyama, ph. We have talked before on this forum about unnecessary tensing while playing. Effective violin lessons based on the shonert technique i give both inperson prague, czech republic and online lessons. Learn the violin easier with a holistic approach using all your senses. Her innovative methods focus on achieving efficient movement for musical results. Im available for alexander technique lessons and i work with all ages and see wonderful results.
The alexander technique and violin and viola shouder rest. Find the most suitable violin chin rest and shoulder rest that give you comfort and ease when playing. The violin and viola are the only western instruments to be tucked under the chin. 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. Evangeline benedetti, cellist and teacher welcome to the.
Randomized controlled trial of the alexander technique for. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Alexander technique clinically proven back pain relief. Buy the book to learn to play the violin violin virtuoso alexander. A biography of paul rolland is also included, noting that rolland was a proponent of the alexander technique. This list also illustrates a few of the activities to which the alexander technique may be applied, beyond the. A violinist having a short alexander technique lesson french, with english. The alexander technique and the profound, simple understandings that it embraces can help transform potential and help release musicality at any level of accomplishment. Piano playing and the alexander technique the crosseyed. Old new worlds, an extensive essay on the program of my cd of 20thcentury music for cello and piano. Learn how to release pain through exploration of the activities where you feel your movement or freedom is limited. Ethan kinds most popular book is an alexander technique approach to cello technique.
Effective violin lessons courses, lessons and books by. Alexander, raymond dart, and their own personal training and teaching approaches to dance. An alexander technique approach to violin technique kindle edition by kind, ethan. 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. I started seeing improvement after my first lesson with sylvia who is a wonderful and very experienced teacher. Alexander technique teach concrete skills of movement and posture that give students the tools they need to change their posture and movement habits. 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. Lessons often take place in a studio, clinic or the teachers house and usually last 30 to 45 minutes. How the alexander technique can help musicians basic. I teach alexander within cello and violin lessons, and to students who have full length alexander lessons focusing on many different activities and concerns. Why i prefer body mapping to alexander technique rdv. Click here for a variety of videos, audio resources, articles and blogs related to constructive rest. More alexander technique books at the alexander technique bookstore usa.
Nurtured by love shinichi suzuki every child can learn if provided a nurturing, supportive environment that encourages a love of learning, discipline, and character above all else. 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. An annotated bibliography featuring studies pertaining specifically to the performing. The book, dance and the alexander technique, does a lovely job of integrating information around dance training, developmental movement, and alexander technique. Books by ethan kind author of an alexander technique. A lexander technique has been around for over a century, and is taught in many schools and conservatories around the world, so its very likely that youve heard a friend, teacher, or fellow musician mention it at some point or. You can buy an electronic version of the book of playing technique on the violin advanced violin techniques, vol. Alexander technique in windsor, maidenhead, berkshire. An alexander technique approach to violin technique kindle. 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. Letting go of neck strain with the alexander technique duration.
Working to principle, an essay about the basics of daily practice, published in my book the alexander technique. Introductory alexander technique classes suzuki violin. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. William shephard mstat member of the society of teachers of the alexander technique. I found the alexander technique after experiencing some. But actually it is about our use, or most often misuse of the self. 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. 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. They are internationally known as two of the most sought after acting coaches, performance experts, and movement teachers collectively teaching the alexander. The book is filled with games and exercises to clarify each highly detailed, carefully illustrated step. A good combination read is any book by jeremy chance my main teacher. Alexander technique lying down, sometimes called constructive rest or active rest is a powerful selfhelp process anyone can do at home. 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.
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