Re: Musicians - how useful is Alexander Technique? Feldenkrais?

[Gwynne Sigel <gittele...>]

As a singer I have found the alexander technique to be very helpful in 
building my awareness of how I am using my body and my instrument . I would 
definitely recommend it.

In the mean time, Ruth,  I would love to learn more about how the 
alexander  technique can be integrated/ combined with cranio -sacral work. 
Please send me your email address.
  Mine is gittele (at) comcast(dot)net(dot)

Gwynne Sigel
  At 11:11 PM 6/9/03 -0400, Jordan Hirsch wrote:
>I definitely use techniques from the Alexander method in my trumpet
>playing.
>
>Jordan hirsch
>
>MaxwellSt (at) aol(dot)com wrote:
>
> > A little off-topic, but I thought I'd share an exercise that has
> > helped me a great deal as a singer.  It was taught to me by a speech
> > therapist.
> >
> > 1) While sitting, expel all the air from your lungs by leaning forward
> > and breathing out completely.  (Only do this while sitting--it can
> > make you a little dizzy!)
> >
> > 2) Inhale as deeply as possible while sitting back up.
> >
> > 3) Now, exhale as slowly as possible (goal: 1 minute) by release the
> > air through pursed lips, making a sound like a punctured tire.  (While
> > we were doing this before a show, the trumpet player walked by and
> > said, "Hmm...the singers are leaking!)
> >
> > After doing this, I find that my diaphragm is more supportive of my
> > voice, and that it naturally rings more in its (higher) register than
> > my speaking voice.  I suggested this exercise to a friend who plays
> > shofar on Yom Kippur, and he outlasted the other shofar blowers!  (The
> > spectacle of "who can blow the longest tikiya g'dola at the end of Yom
> > Kippur" is a highlight of our services.)
> >
> > Lori @ MAX
>

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