I was fortunate enough to experience the Sweet Briar Alexander Technique workshop for the second year in a row. As you may know, I am undergoing teacher training in the AT, and this workshop is just a smorgasbord of fabulous teachers and fellow students of all ages and activities, from all sorts of instrumentalists to singers to dancers to yoga teachers to acupuncturists to actors to government employees.
The week specially honored Elisabeth Walker, who at 94 is still teaching the AT after earning her certification from F.M. Alexander in the 1940’s. Her youthful spirit was evident in her lake swimming and dancing during the week. When she puts her hands on you, her good bodily use comes through as well as her kindly demeanor. What an honor to work with her!
Some insights during the week:
During a private session with teacher Frank Sheldon, I worked again and again on simply placing my violin on my shoulder while inhibiting the impulse to squeeze my left shoulder up to my neck. I was amazed at how unconscious and yet how strong it was! That’s what twenty-nine years of a habit will do, even though I knew that the habit causes fatigue when I practice too long. When I did inhibit with his help for a few minutes and played a simple piece, it had a new, relaxed quality to my playing I had never heard.
In singing class with teacher Barbara Kent, I worked on freeing my neck while humming, opening to “ah”, and finally singing. It felt as if I was gently lifting the weight of my head off my larynx for the first time in my life, though I had never been aware of much tension in my voice, and it was lovely. Suddenly I became aware of when downward head pulling clamped off my speaking voice as well.
Teacher Carol Boggs helped me while putting hands on another student in teacher training class. “Don’t pile-drive yourself downwards to the student,” she said, assisting me to come up and out of my ankles as I hinged at my hips instead. Aaahhh. I got it.
Have you had a lightbulb moment with your being lately? What did you feel?
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