Musical aches and pains (4 Paul)

Heya Paul,

Just a little change of header...

You sound like you're on a totally good track to find solutions to the physical problems related to playing. One thing I see ALL the time are musical/physical problems, because playing full-time in a symphony orchestra lets you interact (if one *wanted to...) with a lot of string players, all holding their instruments in positions that the body was *never* intended to be in, even for a short time! And this is stuff that goes for hours a day.

I've seen really good results for some people with the Feldenkrais method, and you've had other positive testimonials. My personal experience was watching my wife transformed by the Alexander technique. In a number of months, she not only eradicated all of the problems and pains, but - and I kid you not - she found improvement in her playing technique (as in "Hey, I couldn't ever do that before") and even developed a bigger sound. I was, frankly, amazed.

I think you'll know when you've found the right thing, and I'd only add that, once you've gotten the 'problems' either solved or moving in the right direction, you might also consider a program of yoga, in one of it's many forms. I won't belabor the benefits, but when I started up I was pretty ignorant of what yoga can do for a person. And I've been astonished at what it has done for me, truly surprised.

And, of course, pleased!

Best in body health to you,
Jon

--- In metatuning@y..., "jonszanto" <JSZANTO@A...> wrote:

> you might also consider a program of yoga,

dante gave me the same advice off-list, and i promise you both that
i'll follow it. thanks!!!!!!!