~by David Nesmith~ The Alexander Technique is a practical pedagogy for recovering your natural potential for ease, efficiency, balance, and choice. Nature endowed us with the capacity to reason and to choose. This capacity is found at a neurological level in our brain. For example, the cerebellum, which is largely responsible for coordinating muscle movement, contains around 20% of its neurons for volition or excitation (doing) of movement and 80% for inhibition or stopping (non-doing) a movement or action. (Ask your friendly physiologist!) Therefore, there are more neurons for NOT doing, than doing. This realization ought to cause us to pause and consider, hence inhibit and think for a change! … Continue reading
Many of us wish we could move more easily, with less or no discomfort or pain. Musicians are no strangers to the need to use their body and mind well. One of the impediments to comfort and pain free living is lingering or hidden misconceptions about how our body works. Body Mapping is the conscious correction and enhancement of what we think our body is like and how the various parts and structures move. When we learn (re-learn!) how to use ourselves according to nature, we experience more ease and comfort. On March 31 and April 1, 2017 there will be a full six-hour course called What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body. It will be taught at the School of Music at Marshall University at Huntington, WV USA. This course is free and open to the public. For details see the calendar of this website by clicking here. … Continue reading