Has anyone here taken classes on the Alexander
Technique? Courtney, I know that you mentioned taking a course once. I was
wondering if reading some of the books would be as beneficial ? There is a book
called What Every Musician Should Know and was wondering if the books would be
enough to get learn something from or if it would be best to look at doing the
classes instead ? Kim
Alexander Technique
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Alexander Technique
[color=red] Music is the art of thinking with sounds.[/color]
Alexander Technique
Kim you are a busy flutist. the Alexander technique
is based upon posture and physical awarness of one's body and breath. This is
very helpful, however the authors on this system are very vague when it comes to
true facts of the origin of this method which leaves me skeptical. I would look
yoga and meditation as a better replacement of the Alexander technique Hatha
yoga has a proven record for breath and posture control. This a really advanced
method for just a flautist in high school, but if you are serious, check it out.
it will help you. The Alexander technique stole their ideas from Hatha Yoga
is based upon posture and physical awarness of one's body and breath. This is
very helpful, however the authors on this system are very vague when it comes to
true facts of the origin of this method which leaves me skeptical. I would look
yoga and meditation as a better replacement of the Alexander technique Hatha
yoga has a proven record for breath and posture control. This a really advanced
method for just a flautist in high school, but if you are serious, check it out.
it will help you. The Alexander technique stole their ideas from Hatha Yoga
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AG950Flute
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2003 4:24 pm
Alexander Technique
Kim, I personally really really enjoyed taking
Alexander Technique. I took a course over the summer which was almost like a
crash course, and learned a lot of the basic ideas, and then I also took a class
at my school in the fall. From my own experience, I have to believe that the
Alexander Technique did not originate from yoga. The man that developed the
technique (Mr. Alexander) had problems in his acting, he would lose his voice
over a short period of time and spent hours watching himself in the mirror to
study his body and posture and to see how his body worked and carefully
journaled everything. Reading the books may be beneficial, but I would highly
suggest to work with a certified Alexander instructor if you're really
interested. There's also a book that I got at the summer course called "body
mapping for flutists...what every flute teacher needs to know about the body".
you can check out their website at bodymap.org Best of luck!
Alexander Technique. I took a course over the summer which was almost like a
crash course, and learned a lot of the basic ideas, and then I also took a class
at my school in the fall. From my own experience, I have to believe that the
Alexander Technique did not originate from yoga. The man that developed the
technique (Mr. Alexander) had problems in his acting, he would lose his voice
over a short period of time and spent hours watching himself in the mirror to
study his body and posture and to see how his body worked and carefully
journaled everything. Reading the books may be beneficial, but I would highly
suggest to work with a certified Alexander instructor if you're really
interested. There's also a book that I got at the summer course called "body
mapping for flutists...what every flute teacher needs to know about the body".
you can check out their website at bodymap.org Best of luck!
Courtney
Morton
Morton
Alexander Technique
Courtney, Thanks for replying. My daughters teacher
has recommended the classes to her and I have talked to her teacher about some
issues that I have had while playing and it sounds like they might be helpful to
me also. Trying to schedule the classes around our schedules would be
interesting so I thought reading the books might work. I will check out the book
that you mentioned too. Thanks again, Kim
has recommended the classes to her and I have talked to her teacher about some
issues that I have had while playing and it sounds like they might be helpful to
me also. Trying to schedule the classes around our schedules would be
interesting so I thought reading the books might work. I will check out the book
that you mentioned too. Thanks again, Kim
[color=red] Music is the art of thinking with sounds.[/color]
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powayflute01
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:29 pm
- Contact:
Alexander Technique
I've never heard of the Alexander technique.
Courtney, you seem very informed...can you explain maybe what exactly it is and
what it is supposed to do for your playing? Thanks![:)]
Courtney, you seem very informed...can you explain maybe what exactly it is and
what it is supposed to do for your playing? Thanks![:)]
Haha, this one is my favorite: :shock:
[size=75]I <3 LXA[/size]
[size=75]I <3 LXA[/size]
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AG950Flute
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2003 4:24 pm
Alexander Technique
Hmmm....how to explain the technique [:)] Well,
first off, I would like to say that it's not a miracle technique that will
radically change your playing. You have to do that by practicing [:)] In the
Alexander Technique you work with a certified instructor, it's a lot of hands
on approach from the instructor. The technique is designed to have a heightened
sense of awareness of your body and the movements you make to do a certain
activity, which could be anything. The reason why musicians take courses in it
is because many musicians have pain while they play and often it is because of
misusing the body. The instructor works with freeing your body and helps you to
align your spine correctly and balance the weight throughout your body evenly.
Some instructors are also into body mapping which is great. It is interesting to
think that the way you think of your body and how it is designed is also often
the way you USE your body in motion. Some instructors may give you a drawing of
a body and have you fill it in with the way you believe the inside of the body
looks like. I was surprised how incorrect my body map was! And just
understanding better how my body really is designed made a huge difference in
the way I used my body and breathed. For me, that was the biggest change I felt
from the Alexander Technique. I finally learned how to properly take in air and
use it properly to sustain me through long passages. I hope that gives you some
sort of idea on the technique. You may also want to do a search on it as well,
I'm sure you can find a lot of stuff online. Kim, the book I mentioned may be
difficult to find. I could only buy it through the class. If you can't go to
the class, you may want to look up the contact info and see if you can somehow
get it through them. Also, the people that are in charge of class also do
something at the NFA flute convention if you're ever there.
first off, I would like to say that it's not a miracle technique that will
radically change your playing. You have to do that by practicing [:)] In the
Alexander Technique you work with a certified instructor, it's a lot of hands
on approach from the instructor. The technique is designed to have a heightened
sense of awareness of your body and the movements you make to do a certain
activity, which could be anything. The reason why musicians take courses in it
is because many musicians have pain while they play and often it is because of
misusing the body. The instructor works with freeing your body and helps you to
align your spine correctly and balance the weight throughout your body evenly.
Some instructors are also into body mapping which is great. It is interesting to
think that the way you think of your body and how it is designed is also often
the way you USE your body in motion. Some instructors may give you a drawing of
a body and have you fill it in with the way you believe the inside of the body
looks like. I was surprised how incorrect my body map was! And just
understanding better how my body really is designed made a huge difference in
the way I used my body and breathed. For me, that was the biggest change I felt
from the Alexander Technique. I finally learned how to properly take in air and
use it properly to sustain me through long passages. I hope that gives you some
sort of idea on the technique. You may also want to do a search on it as well,
I'm sure you can find a lot of stuff online. Kim, the book I mentioned may be
difficult to find. I could only buy it through the class. If you can't go to
the class, you may want to look up the contact info and see if you can somehow
get it through them. Also, the people that are in charge of class also do
something at the NFA flute convention if you're ever there.
Courtney
Morton
Morton
Alexander Technique
There is a web page alexandercenter.com for more
info. Courtney I did not mean to imply that the Alexander Technique was derived
from Yoga. It is just that I personally feel that Hatha Yoga mixed with Jnana
Yoga is a much better system to achieve the same results. Perhaps better
results. Since the Alexander technique is about 100 years old and yoga is, well
you get my point. Hatha deals a lot with concentrating on breath and controlling
it and the posture of the body.
info. Courtney I did not mean to imply that the Alexander Technique was derived
from Yoga. It is just that I personally feel that Hatha Yoga mixed with Jnana
Yoga is a much better system to achieve the same results. Perhaps better
results. Since the Alexander technique is about 100 years old and yoga is, well
you get my point. Hatha deals a lot with concentrating on breath and controlling
it and the posture of the body.
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AG950Flute
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2003 4:24 pm
Alexander Technique
Cleartone, No offense taken at all, I didn't mean
or want to try and say your ideas were incorrect. [:)] It seems like you know
info on the Alexander Technique and I think it's great that you've given other
options as well for an alternative. You obviously know one method that works as
do I!
or want to try and say your ideas were incorrect. [:)] It seems like you know
info on the Alexander Technique and I think it's great that you've given other
options as well for an alternative. You obviously know one method that works as
do I!
Courtney
Morton
Morton
Alexander Technique
Courtney~ Thanks for the tip. My daughters teacher
said that she can bring a guest to a couple of her classes with her instructor
so we might just try that and then see what happens. Kim <<Kim, the book I
mentioned may be difficult to find. I could only buy it through the class. If
you can't go to the class, you may want to look up the contact info and see if
you can somehow get it through them. Also, the people that are in charge of
class also do something at the NFA flute convention if you're ever there>>
said that she can bring a guest to a couple of her classes with her instructor
so we might just try that and then see what happens. Kim <<Kim, the book I
mentioned may be difficult to find. I could only buy it through the class. If
you can't go to the class, you may want to look up the contact info and see if
you can somehow get it through them. Also, the people that are in charge of
class also do something at the NFA flute convention if you're ever there>>
[color=red] Music is the art of thinking with sounds.[/color]
Alexander Technique
My voice teacher (I'm instrumental/voice emphasis
music ed major) is training with an Alexander Coach to get her certification.
She does a lot of stuff in my voice lesson that crosses over to flute and piano.
I think it all starts with good posture and lining up your body. Be sure your
feet are shoulder-width, knees are loose, glutes are loose, and your head
swivels on your neck. Then take a breath from all the way down in your lower
abdominal area. Your shoulders shouldn't move. Breathe like this as much as you
can- it's the most efficient and natural way to breathe when playing/singing.
Cass the heartnut
music ed major) is training with an Alexander Coach to get her certification.
She does a lot of stuff in my voice lesson that crosses over to flute and piano.
I think it all starts with good posture and lining up your body. Be sure your
feet are shoulder-width, knees are loose, glutes are loose, and your head
swivels on your neck. Then take a breath from all the way down in your lower
abdominal area. Your shoulders shouldn't move. Breathe like this as much as you
can- it's the most efficient and natural way to breathe when playing/singing.
Cass the heartnut
Cass <><