Musicians and the Alexander Technique
“To increase one’s capacity for coordination, however slightly, is infinitely more rewarding than any amount of hard labor at the keyboard which does not serve that purpose.“
– Harold Taylor
Musicians are frequently injured in the course of their performing careers, and most of these injuries are preventable. The Alexander Technique enables musicians to take care of themselves and develop a healthy approach to their instrument. It has long been taught at prestigious conservatories and music departments, including Julliard.
I have been playing the piano since the age of seven, and performing professionally for over thirty years. I have a BA in Music and have taught piano and jazz improvisation privately and at various schools, including the SF Community Music Center and the Berklee College of Music. I am trained in the Taubman piano method, which is a means to virtuosity based on natural movements of the arm and hand. I believe that both the Alexander Technique and the Taubman approach are invaluable in preventing and overcoming the difficulties that pianists often encounter. I do not give piano lessons, but I work with pianists at the piano, helping them to apply the principles of good use to their playing.
I have taught the Alexander Technique to numerous musicians, vocalists, and conductors, and have seen how powerfully this work aids performers in achieving freer self-expression and greater technique. Over the years, I have developed many insights into helping musicians deal with the particular challenges that they face.
See my article, “The Alexander Technique: A Great Tool For Pianists”, in SoundPoint
To set up an appointment or for more information, please email me or call (510) 845‑6619.
For UC Berkeley music majors: I give private Alexander lessons through the Music 150 Program
I’ll be giving a workshop for pianists at Musically Minded Academy in Oakland on April 15th, 2012.