Wellness

Musicians are human beings with real human issues. Although the focus of many musicians is to keep pushing ourselves to achieve at ever higher levels, there are times when we have to stop because of an injury, whether playing-induced or not. Here are some thoughts about how we can survive the multiple traumas of our […]

Whether we are singers or wind musicians, many of us have heard this admonishment from our teachers: “Keep your shoulders down!” But why do they say that? What do your shoulders have to do with breathing anyway? Let’s look at the facts   First, let’s define what shoulders are and are not. Everyone knows what

Our spines can carry our weight in a way that feels easy if we are in alignment, but it can be a real pain if we don’t honor the way Nature put us together. Musicians often complain about back pain and discomfort. Here are some basic facts about spinal alignment that can help you avoid

We musicians may have patterns of moving or holding our bodies that interfere with freedom of movement. Inaccurate messages you may have received about how your body moves, or even the stress of holding and playing your instrument, may put you in positions and paths of movement that interfere with sound production. Movement that is

Actors and opera singers need to feel freedom in their vocal tracts and in their entire bodies for their movements onstage. Instrumentalists require ease of movement in their arms, hands, facial muscles, and breathing muscles. Performers of all kinds are looking for facility in movements. Many have found ease in their performances through the practice

Too many canards are floating around in ensemble rooms and teaching studios about how the body should and shouldn’t move when we breathe. Well-meaning teachers exhort their students to “keep your shoulders down.” Following this instruction will limit the movement necessary to bring air into the lungs. Here we will discuss rib movement for better breathing

Being a musician comes with many stresses, both physical and psychological. The injury rate for musicians is very high. Performance anxiety is frequently debilitating. Medical intervention, physical therapy, and psychological therapy are potent options for musicians, but there are many other non-medical resources available that have helped many musicians. Here is a short list of

Taking a breath is the first act of our lives, and our bodies just know how to move to take in air for our survival. But through inaccurate teaching and trauma, we “forget” how to breathe by trying to move from places in our bodies that don’t accomplish the goal OR by deliberately inhibiting movements

We are all breathers, but woodwind, brass, and vocal musicians depend on the optimum function of their breathing muscles for their art. Many muscles are involved in breathing, but the one most people have heard of, yet is misunderstood the most, is the diaphragm. What is it? The diaphragm is a large, powerful muscle that