Class at NYU
I apologize for not posting for such a long time; time has passed too quickly this past month. But I'm back and committed to posting at least once a week. Today I want to talk about the class I taught at the Steinhardt School for Performing Arts at NYU. I have written in this blog about the natural rhythm of the the autonomic nervous system, called pendulations; the innate flow between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic branches. This flow is often interrupted by stress, trauma, physical ailments, and emotional issues. I taught the students to pendulate and then gave them homework to practice; here's the assignment I gave them. It involves all the elements I've written about during the last few months: 1. Sit in a comfortable chair and do a body scan. 2.Where are you and Read More ››
The Glorious Brain-8
Today, a mishmash of facts about the brain I find fascinating- 1.The cells that form the outer layer of the embryo eventually fold inward and become the very beginning of the spinal cord. Clusters of these cells gather at one end of the spinal cord to become the skull encased brain. 2. The experiences we have in life cause neural firing. The more neurons (nerve cells) firing together (from repeated experiences of all sorts) the stronger the pathway. As neurons fire together, the genes in the nuclei become activated and produce proteins. Proteins allow synaptic linkages to be constructed or strengthned. Remember-neurons are connected to each other by synapses. 3. Experience also stimulates the production of myelin, a fatty sheath around the axon of the neuron. This speeds up firing a Read More ››
Somatic Experiencing-9
Peter Levine developed Somatic Experiencing; his latest book, In An Unspoken Voice, is brilliant. I've written often about tracking the sensations in the body; today, with the help of this book, I will go into more detail. The four categories listed below are part of Peter Levine's model for tracking sensations in the body. The physical sensations that arise in the body travel via nerve impulses from the interior of the body to the thalamus in the brain stem (please check earlier posts on areas of the brain). They are then transferred to most other areas of the brain. There are four categories: 1. Kinesthetic Receptors-picks up tension in our mus Read More ››
A Pause For Reflection
I love writing about the brain and the nervous system but want to go back today to the experiencing the sensations in the body. Let's pause and take time to find where we are in our bodies right now; let's look for an inner and outer sense of ourselves. New readers may want to check past posts on Somatic Experiencing and mindfulness. Wherever you are right now-if possible-take some minutes to reflect. Probably you're sitting; what part of your body feels most settled; maybe you feel contained by your chair; maybe your feet feel heavy on the floor. Your arms may be resting comfortably; the back of your legs may feel particularly supported. Whatever it is, give yourself time to notice and maybe sink some more into the sensations. Now let's try for a sense of the inner body; this may Read More ››
Autonomic Nervous System-2
I'm excited about something I just read about the ANS (autonomic nervous system) and want to tell you all about it but first, a quick review. As you may recall from earlier posts, the ANS is coordinated in the middle prefrontal area of the brain. It is coordinates bodily functions such as heart rate, respiration and digestion. It is comprised of two branches:sympathetic which functions as the accelerator and parasympathetic which works as the brake. Fight or flight (please see earlier post) occurs here. David Eagleman's fascinating new book, Incognito,The Secret Lives of The Brain, is filled with scientific studies documenting unconsciousness:there is so much going on in our brains, affecting every aspect of our livest, that we know Read More ››
The Glorious Brain-7
Pruning The brain of a young child is laden with 1,000 trillion synapses (Chang et al. 2004). With time the young cells that are not being used are pruned, making the brain more efficient. Pruning takes place again in early adolescence, following overproduction. By the mid-20's the brain is stable, the pruning process over. This stability involves over 100-500 trillion synapses (Giedd et al, 1999). We've often heard people proclaim we use only a fraction of our brain power; the adult brain has the potential to activate 10 to the millionth power neurons!(Badenoch, 1999) Let's get busy!!!! Read More ››
The Glorious Brain-6
Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system. They transmit information, chemically or electrically, throughout the body. There are several types of neurons: sensory neuron-they convert external stimuli into internal electrical impulses and transmit this information to the brain and motor neurons-located in the central nervous system, they directly or indirectly control muscles Neurons have extensions called dentrites that look like spikes extending from the body of the cell. It is primarily the surface of the dentrite that receives chemical messages from other neurons. Another important extension is Read More ››
Reptilian Brain-con't
As previously stated, the reptilian brain controls our physical response to threat-flight, fight or freeze (these are all reflexes) . I've written often about tracking the sensations in the body; the language of the reptilian brain is sensation. Balance, initiation of movement, breathing, digestion, circulation, sleep, sexuality and action are all governed by this oldest part of the brain. The reptilian brain-or brainstem-also effects the energy levels of the brain area above it; the limbic and cortex. It controls arousal, appetite, sexual engagement and sleep. When there is trauma in the body, the reptilian brain stays on 'on' and all these systems are impacted. Read More ››
The Miraculous Somatic Experiencing-8
I recently completed my fifth module of a nine module (3 year) training in Somatic Experiencing. I am still in awe, still so grateful I found Peter Levine's tremendous work. I want to share some of the most striking things I have learned; if you are unfamiliar with Dr. Levine's work, you might read "Waking The Tiger". I particularly love learning about the reptilian brain, also known as the brain stem. I think of a reptile slowly dragging itself around, always on the look out for danger, constantly scanning the environment. We, as modern 21st century people, don't think too much of this part of our selves, being more identified with the thinking, rational cortex. But it's there and it still scans and when it senses danger it signals the automatic nervous system. In previous blo Read More ››
Cells
The last thing a cell does before it dies is maintain its distinction between inner and outer. In between the two is a plasma membrane; one of the interesting things about this membrane is that it is not tight and in fact leaks a bit in a controlled way. The inside of the cell is called the cytoplasm and here things are tightly packed in, divided into sub-cellular compartments. The nucleus is one of these compartments; you probably remember from high school biology that there is one nucleus in each cell. It is here that we find the chromosomes that contain DNA. Mitochondriais another sub-cellular compartment. It is the power source of the cell, the part that breathes (uses oxygen to burn food and generate oxygen). Read More ››
The Spinal Cord
The brain stem goes directly into the spinal cord, which is encased in the spinal column and is comprised of 31 vertebrae. Between each two vertebrae are openings where nerves leave the spinal cord. There are posterior neurons that carry information to the spinal cord; anterior neurons carry information away. Afferent nerves, also referred to as sensory, carry sensory information to the spinal cord and brain. The nerve fibers that carry information away are efferent nerves, also referred to as motor nerves, bring commands to the muscles and organs. The connection between the nervous system and the rest of the body comes from these spinal nerves. The sole connection between the brain and the rest of the body (with the exception of cranial -neck-nerves )is the brain stem and spina Read More ››
More on The Glorious Brain-5
Our brain's organization is firstly influenced by genetics and then by experience. Our experience influences which genes are actually expressed (Siegel, 1999). We constantly have inner and outer experiences that neurons, forming synaptic connections with each other, send to the brain. They are carried by energy (electrical firing) and information (mental representations that happen with the firing). All parts of an experience gather in a neural net, that encodes that event (this is how memories are formed). When one strand of that net is activated by current experience, it is likely the whole net will be activated (this is remembering). Remembering playing ball with your fat Read More ››
Interesting Facts about Our Glorious Brain-4
I love the book, Being A Brain-Wise Therapist, by Bonnie Badenoch; most of what I'm going to write today comes from this fascinating book. 1.The adult brain has roughly 100 billion neurons (nerve/neural cells) that connect by synapses to 7,000-10,000 other neurons. This adds up to 2 million miles of neural highways in our brain(Siegel, 1999). 2. The neural cells in the heart and gut work as a little brain; the data sent from these two places has an impact on the autonomic nervous system, as well as the higher cognitive and emotional areas of the brain. Read More ››
Somatic Experiencing-7
A crucial aspect of self regulation is the flow between the two branches of the Autonomic Nervous System; the sympathetic and parasympathetic. In my last post I talked about sensing into your body (using your felt sense) to feel the difference between the two branches. The idea was to feel how a good thought affects you inwardly, how an uncomfortable one changes your sensations. I then asked you to return to the comfortable place. It's important to remember what you found in the comfortable-or parasympathetic-place. Probably you felt more grounded; maybe your feet in the floor, or the back of your legs in the chair, etc. This tool can help you when you want to regulate. Say you suddenly feel anxious-another way to say this is you're in the sympathetic branch, without a flow down t Read More ››
Somatic Experiencing-6
Let's go back to experiencing the sensations of the body; the 'felt sense'. We need quiet for this so find a place and get comfortable. Notice your body, where you feel settled, comfortable. Now, as discussed previously, do a body scan starting from your feet, going up to your head. Notice active areas, quiet areas. Imagine being with a person you feel safe with; notice your full body, notice body temperature, find any arousal (activation), notice your comfort, your breath. Now imagine being with someone you don't like, someone with whom you do not feel comfortable and do the body scan again. What do you notice now-probably parts of your body are activated, probably your breathing and comfort level has changed, Now go back to the first image, the one of comfort and safety. Notice Read More ››
Back To The Glorious Brain-3
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the brain is divided into two hemispheres-right and left. Although there are two amygdalae, two hippocampi and two temporal lobes, the way they process information is quite different. The left hemisphere likes things to make sense; two plus two never equals three. Language, logic, and linearity are its hallmarks. It explains the input from the right hemisphere and puts it into neat packages. The right side is nonlinear, receptive to everything that comes its way. It perceives and processes spatial and visual information such as nonverbal signals. Our mental model of the self and the way we relate to the world is formed on this side; the way we feel ourselves, our story, our relationship to our body and the way we relate to others. Fight, Read More ››
More Thoughts On Performing
It's so clear to me that technique, although very important, is not the whole picture. Whether a musician; actor or singer, connection to one's body is crucial. And not just to the outer body; the sensations of the inner body lead the performer to genuine connection first to oneself and then to the audience. I often think of two well known violinists who are brothers. They often perform together and are widely admired for their spectacular technique. One brother is also admired for the feeling he pours into his playing, for the soul that shines through. He draws people to him; to my ear there is a world of difference between them. I know both musicians and was pleased to count one of them as a client for a few years. His body mind connection is evident in everything he does Read More ››
More on NYU
Thank you again for your comments; I do appreciate them. My time at NYU was just great; a wonderful group of aspiring-and clearly very talented-actors/singers. This was a performance class and their teacher works with them on bodily expression; this was good to see. My model of whole body consciousness mixed with Somatic Experiencing and neurobiology works as well with actors as it does with musicians. Here's why: 1. No matter how you express yourself artistically, turning inward to find your unique voice is crucial. Somatic Experiencing (SE) is based on tuning into the sensations of your inner body (felt sense). This is where-I believe-the artistic soul is, where you'll find your essence. 2. Again, no matter how you express yourself, it must be done with the whole body. If Read More ››
Somatic Experiencing-5
I am going to be a guest instructor at a performance class at NYU(New York University) next week so I thought I'd write about some of the things I've been thinking. This is a continuation of what I've written previously so you might want to back up and read my posts on Somatic Experiencing(SE) if you're new to my blog. Sitting comfortably, sensing into your back in the chair, your feet on the floor, let yourself wonder about what you're doing when you feel most yourself-let it come to you, wait for it to appear. Stay with it, let it expand as you sense it in your body. Let this felt sense grow; not thinking but allowing yourself to listen to the sensations that grow in your body. Feel how this place, whatever it is, affects your inner body. Maybe you feel an internal warmth grow Read More ››
The Cortex
Okay, let's keep going. Today I'll begin discussing the cerebral cortex, also referred to as the neocortex. It consists of four lobes that are mostly concerned with relationship and reasoning. The occipital lobe at the back of the head takes pieces of visual information and turns them into whole images. The parietal lobes process information about temperature, pain, touch, where we are in space, sensory understanding, speech and reading. It also receives informationabout the body from the spinal cord. At the side of the head are the temporal lobes responsible for processing more complex information about smell and sounds. It also is part of the process that integrates memory. The fourth lobe is the frontal cortex, housing regions for control of voluntary muscle and motor plann Read More ››
A Look Back
I'm going to go back before I go ahead. Let's look at the most important parts of the last few posts and how it all relates to Somatic Experiencing and mindfulness. I love having a feeling for the flow between the body, nervous system and brain. I love understanding how change on one level can effect so many other systems. It's this flow that is often obstructed by, for example, fear and anxiety. This is true for all of us; musicians, artists, singers and lay people. The fear antenna is in the amygdala; depending on our history of trauma it may always on alert or, for a system that has no trauma, only activated when it senses possible danger. Somatic Experiencing (SE) teaches us that trauma is what has been locked in the nervous system, unable to escape. Even tho Read More ››
Limbic System Continued-the Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus, along with the pituitary, is in charge of the neuroendocrine system that releases neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters increase (excite) or decrease ( inhibit) electrical activity in neurons. Increases or decreases in neurotransmitters have a major impact on mood and behavior. The hypothalamus produces the the hormones that effect the pituitary gland. Once the amygdala senses danger the sympathetic branch of the autonomic system is alerted and the hypothalamus, through the pituitary, releases hormones that travel to the adrenal glands. This is where cortisol is released (please see posts on the autonomic nervous system and cortisol.) Cortisol increases the level of glucose in the blood to respond to the threat. Under normal circumstances the threat Read More ››
The Brain Continued-The Hippocampus
The hippocampus is another important structure of the limbic system. Its main function is in the process of remembering; it puts together little pieces of information and forms them into explicit memories. It also retrieves past encoded information. Implicit memory, which takes place in the amygdala, is the form of memory we have until the 12-18 months. It is an evaluation of whether a situation or person is safe-there is no awareness of time. When explicit memory comes online, the parts of implicit memory are integrated and recognized as coming from the past. Factual memory comes first; the ability to recall events in sequence and locate them in space. Following this autobiographical memory begins. Read More ››
More on the Glorious Brain-2
The amygdala is activated by internal or external events that appear to be threatening. This action releases neurochemicals that prepare the body for defensive action. Under the best of conditions, the amygdala works with parts of the cortex to connect the fear with cognition-'it looks like a snake but it's really a stick'- thus modulating the initial fear response. Once the amygdala assesses the danger-either with or without help-the sympathetic branch of the nervous system (see past posts) is activated, speeding up the heart beat to get blood to the muscles to ready them for action, and rising blood sugar for increased energy. It is now that the adrenal glands release the hormone cortisol. Under normal circumstances, cortisol levels drop down to normal when the threat passes. Read More ››
The Glorious Brain-1
I love what I've been learning about the brain-the truly miraculous, glorious brain. I'm going to begin to write about it; let me know what you think. There are three main structures and two hemispheres. In the future I will write about the two hemispheres. For now just know they are so different from each other that some scientists think of us having two brains! Today we will begin to look at the brain stem, limbic area and cortex. The brainstem is the one area of the brain that is ready to go before birth in full term babies. It controls respiration, sleep, vessel constriction, to name a few. It also is the part of the brain that is closest to the spinal cord and helps relay information from the body to the brain. In the center of the brain is the limbic area which includes t Read More ››
Thank You!
Many people have been reading my posts and commenting; I appreciate the time taken to reply and warmly thank those who regularly follow my blog. Some more about mindfulness and the brain. I teach my clients it's never too late to stimulate the growth of neural fibers that enable mindfulness to grow. Mindfulness training effects the prefrontal region of the brain, the area that is crucially important to the performer for it coordinates regulation of heart rate, respiration and gives us the ability to sooth ourselves when afraid. When stressed the body releases cortisol, putting one's entire metabolism on high alert to meet the challenge. This impacts blood flow; as blood moves away from the high cognitive center, more mistakes are made and processing information becomes more difficu Read More ››
Continuing
I hope you were able to spend time bringing your awareness to your inner and outer body. It's important to remember that mindfulness includes the inner body, not just the strength and flexibility of your muscles. So what does this mean? As I type, I am aware of the muscles in my arms contracting; I notice some familiar discomfort in my neck and I feel my feet on the ground. If I give myself more time, I become aware of my breathing; it feels a little shallow. If I like, I can wonder about that. This awareness leads me to the slight drawing in of my shoulders-it seems to go along with the restricted breathing. Now I have an image of myself sitting here-an inner image; no one looking at me would notice these inner workings. If I choose, I can stay with this image; I can amplify Read More ››
The Next Step
I've returned from my SE training and although I'm quite tired-four very long, very intense days-I am thrilled! I learned a lot, had meaningful experiences and thoroughly enjoyed the group of 32 practitioners. I will be weaving in what I learned as I assimilate it. Let's pick up from last week; if you are new to this blog, it might be a good idea to read from the beginning or at least from the last few posts. So you've been practicing sitting in a chair and being present to your activation and to your relaxation. You've tried to simply follow the sensations in your body by bringing awareness to them. This is good-let's take the next step. Let's now try to apply this to your instrument, to your singing or to your acting. To simplify, I will write in terms of a string instrument Read More ››
Peter Levine and SE
I was fortunate enough to recently view a video of Peter Levine-the brilliant creator of SE (Somatic Experiencing)-working with a young woman who had been raped. It was incredible. As you may recall, SE is a system created to help those recovering from trauma (please see earlier post.) Although it is very effective with all sorts of nervous system dysfunction, it is remarkable how restoring this balance deeply helps-heals-those who have been traumatized. I am about to begin my intermediate year of SE training and am excited and a little anxious. I find myself needing to do grounding exercises(like the one written about in my last post.) I am also stepping up my breathing exercises(see my resource list) and getting my body ready for nine hour days of learning! Let you know all a Read More ››
Continued grounding
I'm going to pick up where I left off. Maybe you've allowed yourself to experience a part of your body settled into your chair, maybe you've focused on the sensation of your feet on the ground. Maybe you've been able to stay with this, tracking the sensation. Perhaps you felt the back of your thighs resting as they are supported by the chair. You might have, with time and mindfulness, felt the sensation moving down you legs or to the front of your thighs. I bet you felt relaxed as you did this- good! This is your 'ground', your resource. Remember it. When you are activated and it feels like too much, you can come back to this safe place. Ideally, the autonomic nervous system flows in waves of activation(sympathetic branch) and relaxation (parasympathetic.) Now, read this an Read More ››
More on grounding
Maybe you've been bringing more awareness to your feet this week; if so, good for you! Now let's add to what I posted last time. As you sit in your chair at your computer, read this and then move your chair away for a bit and try it. To bring mindfulness to your actions, you must take the time. Begin by noticing your feet-how do they feel, what sensations are you aware of when you focus? Maybe you feel them firmly on the ground, maybe not. It's just important to notice. Now let your attention wander to the rest of your body. What feels settled, resting comfortably in the chair? Maybe the back of your legs, maybe your arms or hands, maybe your butt. Just notice. When you've found what feels most settled, stay there and breathe. Allow your attention to go where the grou Read More ››
Your feet
I've written a number of posts around the subject of feet; so important to so many aspects of life but often only noticed when they ache. Try today to bring consciousness to your feet-not judgement but awareness. What are they doing as you sit at your computer? I just noticed mine were perched on my toes and decided to put the whole foot on the ground. Sometimes, depending on your chair, this isn't possible but right now just notice. As you walk down the street, notice. Are you more on your toes? Heels? Do your feet roll outwards, inwards? If you're a musician, and you play seated, bring your awareness to your feet before you start to play and during. Are you grounded-do you feel your feet firmly in the ground? When you're playing a difficult passage, do your feet lift Read More ››
Somatic Experiencing-4
In previous posts, I've written about trauma and the nervous system. As a reminder, a healthy autonomic system flows between the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. Activation takes us up into sympathetic, letting go-deactivating-brings up back down to parasympathetic. Notice the word 'up' preceding sympathetic. Sometimes activation takes us away from our body(as in up and away.) Let's start by looking at this. Sit in a chair and first get a general sense of how you are in your body right now, where you feel grounded. Now recall an experience in which you felt activated; it might be anxiety, fear or sadness, to name just a few. Now notice your body again. Is it the same or has there been a change. Often people feel pulled away from their grounding when activated, Read More ››
Somatic Experiencing-3
I am often asked if I practice SE with the general population and if I find it as helpful as I do with musicians and actors. My answer is a resounding YES to both parts of the question. In my private practice I see people who have body-related issues. They may be performers or may come from an entirely different perspective, what they have in common is a nervous system that is stuck in a position that does not allow flow between the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. Read More ››
Somatic Experiencing-2
As previously stated, the Autonomic Nervous System(ANS) regulates all the basic body functions. It is comprised of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. They control opposite physical and emotional states; in a way they are like opposite sides of the same coin. The parasympathetic system(PNS): stimulates flow of saliva slows the heartbeat stimulates peristalsis(wave-like muscle contractions that move food to digestive tract) & secretion stimulates release of bile contracts the bladder Sympathetic system(SNS): inhibits flow of saliva accelerates heartbeat inhibits peristalsis & secretion conversion of glycogen to glucose secretion of adrenaline inh Read More ››
Resources
I haven't had the time to sit down and write for a few weeks-so good to be back! Thought I'd share the resources I gave to the parents and students after my presentation at Juilliard Pre-College; they are all very, very helpful. 1. WALKING MEDITATION-Many musicians have no sense of their feet and legs and don't realize how crucial this connection is to their well being and to their sound- Walk 12 paces (can be less) slowly across the room with your eyes closed, if possible. Return. Focus all your attention on the soles of the feet or lower legs. When the mind wanders, refocus on your feet. Set a timer, as in sitting meditation, start with 5 minutes, work up to 20, walking back and forth. IMPORTANT-your mind will wander, of course, take that as a given. This is not like pract Read More ››
Meditation
Consistent meditation helps to restore resiliency; makes it easier to let go of tension, to maintain self-regulation. When we are stressed, the hormone cortisol is released. This has an important impact on blood flow; the heart rate goes up, and blood is moved away from the brain's highest cognitive center. It's a time when people make more mistakes; they are distracted and the ability to recall important information diminishes. Processing information becomes more difficult. We all know this place. I see musicians and actors who perform in this state all the time and have seen how important a daily meditation practice is to them. It doesn't eliminate stress, of course, but enables them to recover from difficult situations, to self-regulate. Read More ››
The Adolescent Brain
I am preparing for a workshop, Reaching The Inner Musician, I am giving on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Juilliard. This will be for Pre-College students and their parents and I am looking forward to it. In the next few weeks I will be sharing on this blog what I presented; today I will write briefly about the adolescent brain. We all know adolescence is a very difficult time; I know of no adult who would like to repeat this particular time of life. Between emerging sexuality; which for many is overwhelming; the search for a separate identity,;new and complicated relationships; academic demands and stress at home; negotiating this period can be difficult. At the same time, the adolescent brain is in flux; it is exposed to serious hormonal changes and, more importantl Read More ››
Autonomic Nervous System-1
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is coordinated by the middle prefrontal region of the brain. It is responsible for bodily functions such as heart rate, respiration and digestion. It has two branches: sympathetic, which is often compared to a car accelerator and the parasympathetic, similar to the car's brake. When there is a flow between the two-a balance-our mind feels calm and we are able to let go of much facial and body tension. We are open. When we detect a threat-environmental, physical or emotional-we usually go into a state of alert and activate the sympathetic branch. It is here the body readies itself for action; adrenaline pumps and cortisol (stress hormone) is released. Often the heart pounds wildly and the stomach churns. Muscle tension mounts. We are on gu Read More ››
Somatic Experiencing-1
In the last few years I have become very interested in learning about the autonomic nervous system and its role in the healthy (or not) functioning of the body and psyche. As a result, I am now completing my first year of a three year professional training program in Somatic Experiencing (SE). This brilliant model was developed by Peter Levine, specifically designed to heal trauma by restoring regulation to the autonomic nervous system. Trauma is defined as something that has effected this system, not by the content. So what may be a trauma to your friend may be a difficult experience to you, one you can shake off, that does not impact your nervous system. I have begun to use SE with musicians and actors who have severe stage fright and find every performance traumatic. I am Read More ››
Pain
I have had the pleasure of working closely with many classical musicians- young and old, students and well known professionals- and have had many opportunities to observe them and their colleagues in practice and performance. All too frequently I see musicians who are clearly playing in pain, musicians who are dangerously unaware of their bodies and musicians whose sound is compromised by layers of tension and stress. Many musicians, regardless of their instrument, play from the mid-chest up, oblivious to the fact that their sound and technique is affected by the placement of their feet and legs, the stress in their lower backs, their shallow breath. It is important to understand-mentally and physically-how one part of the body effects all other parts. Often a practitioner's diagn Read More ››
Backpacks
There are some 'body issues' that are generational, they come and go. One of them is the enormously heavy backpacks students have become all too accustomed to; I don't believe they were in fashion twenty-five years ago. Although things are beginning to change, packs on wheels seem to becoming more acceptable, the majority of students still carry their books on their backs. I want to talk today about what happens when one is not carrying a backpack. I've noticed when students are sitting-be it in a chair, on the bus, in a car-that their back assumes an 'as if' shape; as if it still has a backpack attached to it. They are slumped, their spine is shortened, their neck is tight. This is not good. This collapsed posture effects all of the body, from the alignment of the hea Read More ››
Whole Body Consciousness
The lynchpin of my work rests on two crucial factors; awareness of one's body in all aspects of life and 'whole body consciousness.' The way a musician uses his/her body in everyday life is reflected in all aspects of technique and musicality. It is not possible to have a solid body/instrument technique without daily body awareness. As you read this, do a quick body scan-notice your feet, legs and how you're sitting in your chair. Then bring awareness to your spine and neck-just notice what you notice. How about your shoulders, your jaw, your eyes? Notice the parts of your body that feel comfortable in the chair; maybe your back supported by the chair; maybe the backs of your legs on the seat; your feet on the ground. If you have a few minutes, continue to focus on thes Read More ››
I had a wonderful time
Last Saturday, Dec. 5, I gave a lecture at Juilliard Pre-College and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It took place at Morse Hall, where the students give many of their recitals and it is quite lovely. I was joined by Conrad Tao who literally helped me teach; what an incredible young man(15) he is. I asked him questions about the work we've done together and he answered verbally and on the piano and violin. We discussed the mainstay of my technique, whole body consciousness, and I think the audience got a real sense of what this is about. Many seemed to understand, as demonstrated by their questions, that chronic pain and/or discomfort, must be looked at as a whole body issue. Pain in the lower arm, for example, is often referred from the lower back-it is crucial this is understood. Read More ››
The Musician
The musician walks into my office, we say our hello's and she proceeds to open her violin case, revealing not only her precious instrument and bow but a bit of her inner life as well. The instrument case is often adorned with photographs, lucky knicknacks and children's drawings. At times I feel like a voyeur as I take a surreptitious glance, at other times I am invited to look and feel as if I've gained initial entrance into her special world. She takes out her instrument and bow and first-always-tunes it; if the weather is at either extreme this may take a bit longer than usual. Then she plays for me and suddenly, amazingly, my office is filled with the sounds I have loved since childhood, sounds that filled the American Ballet Studios where I began my love of dance and classical music. Read More ››