I recently completed editing and uploading a video for a collaborative project that took place in September (2023). Like most people I find it difficult to have to look and listen to myself, this was made a little easier because the project was a collaboration … Read More
Learning to learn again
A few years ago I embarked on a long time dream and committed to learning the oud. My aim was to discover new ways to meet music and try to be as much a beginner as possible and not rely on any guitar knowledge. Oud … Read More
fingers, hands and wrists blues
There are so many ways to talk and write about musician’s physical wellbeing. I am a deep believer that there is never just one way to address this topic, however I’ve noticed that most musicians whom I come across sight issues that relate to “fingers, … Read More
Does Alexander Technique really work?
A rose? There is nothing as central to human communication as giving something a name, a process that is often the starting point for storytelling. Wherever we may look we see evidence that as humans we tell stories; breathe and tell stories. For example Shakespeare’s work … Read More
‘soft psychoanalysis’ and severing heads from bodies
I walk into a room full of people who have paid more than they earn to hear and be in the presence of a the ‘master teacher’ for a weekend ‘refresher’. It’s an end of that intense and emotionally fuelled weekend and no one is … Read More
The subjective habit of mind
The nature of a situation Most musicians admit to a common problem: that they feel pain after playing their instrument for more than an hour at a time. This comes as no surprise since playing a musical instrument/vocal production is both a mentally and physically … Read More
Musicians: 3 lies that you need to destroy for a healthy spine
What’s going on? A musician’s working life-spans is generally much longer than the those who are involved professionally in sports or dance. For example the great 20th century pianist Arthur Rubinstein performed for nearly 9 decades. But the mental and physical demands of making music … Read More
Find out how Alexander technique and Aikido improve posture
What does thinking in education mean? What role does perception play when it comes to learning? Sounds like questions one could ask at a convention on philosophy, right? Actually, not really. It is another evening of work at my local Aikido dojo. Aikido is an interesting learning experience and … Read More
6 things you don’t know that might be hurting your wrists!
The secret language of bones The littlest bones of the human body are inside the ear. But there are a set of small bones that make up a section of our body also referred to as the ‘wrist’. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is one of the … Read More