Body Mapping: The Intersection of Breathing & Balance in Music-making
*There will be movement explorations using the instruments- have them at the ready. Please dress in loose, comfortable clothing and also have a yoga mat/blanket, paper/pen, some face cloths ready.
Day One: Monday January 24th
Intro to Body Mapping
An exploration of what Body Mapping is, how important our spines are in music-making and how retraining our movement, senses and attention can revolutionize our playing.
Day Two: Tuesday January 25th
How Do We Breathe?
This session will examine the common misconceptions of breathing that lead to unnecessary muscular work in the torso, which in turn contribute to the discomfort of standing or sitting to play in long rehearsals. Learning to breathe with only necessary muscular work will lead to more freedom in the arm and torso muscles that create our music-making movements.
Day Three: Wednesday January 26th
Balance while Standing and Sitting to Play
Day Three examines how to stand and how to sit in balance without discomfort, pain and grip! The Six Places of Balance in the Body will be explored to address ailments like lower back and neck and shoulder region pain.
Day Four: Thursday January 27th
The Intersection of Breathing and Balance
This session entails a deeper experiential examination with the instruments of standing, sitting and breathing while playing. We will discover how when we breathe without the unnecessary muscle work that common cultural myths lead us into, balance through the bony structure is easier to achieve… and vice-versa!
Day Five: Friday January 28th
Breathing to Phrase/ Questions and Experimenting on Instruments
The first part of this session will explore how learning to breathe well assists all musicians in their phrasing. Important breathing techniques designed especially for musicians who do not produce their sound directly via breath (i.e. non-wind/brass players/singers) are included.
The second part of this session will consist of addressing specific questions, confusions around breathing and balance while playing from the participants.