Movement for Musicians

In the mid-1990s, as I was finishing my undergraduate as cellist at Bennington College, I began experiencing discomfort in my wrists and fore-arms as I played. Within a year or so, I couldn't even hold a pen in my hand without pain, let alone play the cello. The following decade began with trips to various doctors from both Western and Eastern traditions, and progressed to studies in the Alexander Technique, Tai-Chi and Chi-Gung, and finally, the Feldenkrais Method, as I gradually found my way out of injury and towards mastery.

Along the way, I have found that this work is about more than being comfortable with your instrument, or avoiding/recovering from injury (though it is the best that you can do for either of those). Every single musician I have worked with, be they string players, wind players, keyboard players or singers, has discovered immediate improvements in the quality of sound, agility, and -- perhaps most importantly -- musical phrasing and expression.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Check out this issue of SenseAbility dedicated to the practice of the Feldenkrais Method for musicians.

~Josh Schreiber Shalem

 


Workshops in collaboration with Feldenkrais and musical colleague, June LaPointe (www.junelapointe.com):

June LaPointeSaturday, May 1, 2010 1:00 - 3:30 PM

Express Yourself: Stand Up & Sing!

Love to sing, but want to feel more freedom and ease in standing and presenting yourself with power and dignity? With exquisite self care and comfort, we will explore breathing and postural alignment lessons from Bones for Life and the Feldenkrais Method to enhance the pleasure of your daily vocal practice and tap the potential of your peak performance.

  • Discover a shortcut to standing in easy uprightness.
  • Breathe with ease and efficiency to support your authentic sound.
  • Increase body awareness and release tension and strain to prevent injury.

Feldenkrais Practitioner and Bones for Life Trainer, June LaPointe, is a voice coach, musician and actor who brings 30 years of experience as a performer and somatic education coach to her practice of helping people move and express themselves with greater fluency, power, authenticity and ease.

With June LaPointe, GCFP, Bones for Life Trainer, 617 335 1317 or june@junelapointe.com
Register: nimblebodymind@gmail.com $25 ($10 with student ID)

 
Tuesday, May 4 7:00 - 9:00 PMJosh playing the bass viol

Nimble Hands for Action & Expression

Experience how your hands depend on the rest of your body for their efficiency, as these Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement lessons show you how to tap into a freedom of breath and movement that will improve the experience of music making for both your and your audience.

  • Develop a richer, more expressive sound
  • Improve speed & agility with comfort and ease
  • Increase body awareness and release tension and strain to prevent injury

Josh Schreiber Shalem has been a student of the Feldenkrais Method since 1997 when chronic tendonitis forced him to stop playing the cello. Once again an active musician with an MM from the Longy School of Music in viola da gamba, Josh takes great joy in sharing what he has learned with musicians and anyone else who would like to overcome obstacles and realize their potential.

with Josh Schreiber Shalem, GCFP
Register: nimblebodymind@gmail.com $20 ($10 with student ID)

 
Josh and EvaSaturday, May 8 3:00 - 6:00 PM $10

Master Class for Performing Artists

 

Experience and witness how small but powerful changes can improve your playing, singing and expression. Connect with your self and your audience and remove interference to perform with ease.

 

With June LaPointe, GCFP & Josh Schreiber Shalem, GCFP
Register to attend or to perform: nimblebodymind@gmail.com $10

 

 

 

 

 

All events at Easy Does It Movement and Learning Collaborative, 19 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA

Josh Schreiber, GCFP 
781-640-8794    josch at rcn.com
The Feldenkrais Method® -- discover yourself from the inside out!