The Feldenkrais Method for Instrumentalists: A Guide to Awareness through Movement

Samuel H. Nelson; Elizabeth L. Blades

doi:10.5771/9781538182604

Summary

Every musician is an athlete. Athletes hone their bodies, coordinate their reflexes, and train their minds seeking to perfect a balance of strength, skills, and agility. Complicated, demanding, and repetitious movements often result in unnatural and difficult positions which put instrumentalists at risk of injury. However, when movement and task are coordinated well and freely, the athlete-instrumentalist finds themselves in “the zone” or “the flow,” a magical place where art and athleticism meet.

The Feldenkrais Method is a movement-based self-discovery processthat aims for performance with minimum effort and maximum efficiency, thus reducing the chance of injury and even helping speed up recovery time from an injury. Samuel H. Nelson and Elizabeth Blades provide a guide to the Feldenkrais Method tailored specifically for instrumentalists. The book includes many “Awareness Through Movement” activities and lessons as well as case studies and examples specific to different instrument types.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2023
Copyright Year: 2023
ISBN-Print: 978-1-5381-8258-1
ISBN-Online: 978-1-5381-8260-4
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 208
Product Type: Monograph

1. Contents No access
2. Acknowledgments No access
3. Online Supplement No access
CHAPTER 1. Overview No access Pages 1 - 10
CHAPTER 2. Self-Image and Kinesthetic Imagination No access Pages 11 - 26
CHAPTER 3. Physics of Easy Movement No access Pages 27 - 36
CHAPTER 4. Neuroplasticity No access Pages 37 - 46
CHAPTER 5. The Cost of Choice, Intention, and the Power of Habit No access Pages 47 - 52
CHAPTER 6. The Base of Support No access Pages 53 - 62
CHAPTER 7. The Pelvis No access Pages 63 - 72
CHAPTER 8. Breathing No access Pages 73 - 82
CHAPTER 9. Upper Trunk Flexibility No access Pages 83 - 96
CHAPTER 10. Shoulder Girdle and Arms No access Pages 97 - 108
CHAPTER 11. Head and Neck No access Pages 109 - 120
CHAPTER 12. Hands and Mouth No access Pages 121 - 136
CHAPTER 13. The Eyes No access Pages 137 - 146
CHAPTER 14. Bonus Lessons No access Pages 147 - 162
CHAPTER 15. Perspectives from Instrumentalists No access Pages 163 - 188
APPENDIX A. Functional Integration No access Pages 189 - 190
APPENDIX B. ATM Lessons and Areas of Major Impact No access Pages 191 - 198
Index No access Pages 199 - 206
About the Authors No access Pages 207 - 208