Performance Awareness

A 4-session course (total: 12h) for musicians wishing to increase physical, psychological, and emotional awareness in their playing. Wednesday in September/October (22.9/29.9/6.10/13.10) from 10.15-13.30.

This course is intended for professional musicians and advanced students wishing to increase their awareness.

 FM Alexander wrote: “without awareness of bodily feeling and attitude, a person becomes split into a disembodied spirit and a disenchanted body”. Moshé Feldenkrais stated: “…self-knowledge through awareness is the goal of reeducation. As we become aware of what we are doing in fact, and not what we say or think we are doing, the way to improvement is wide open to us.”

 So, what is this elusive awareness? Is it a thought process, cognitive activity, sensation, emotion, or a mix of everything? And how does it relate to one’s music making?

The workshop, facilitated by Alexander-Teacher/pianist Kim Harrison and psychologist/pianist Heather O’Donnell will support participants in increasing their awareness of many different aspects of their playing: physical sensations (i.e. the relationship of tension and relaxation, the full embodiment of musical material), and psychological (i.e. thought patterns and emotional predispositions or reactions).

The workshop aims to assist musicians in preparing for stress-inducing concerts/auditions, and to integrate the various aspects of their musicianship into an individualized whole. The learning is experiential, meaning that participants will be performing often throughout the course of the workshop, there will be “hands-on” Alexander-Technique work at the instrument, as well as exercises for deepening self-knowledge with regard to musicianship. This program is offered to a small group of musicians, max. 8 participants.

80% of course fees are covered by funding generously provided by the Imhoff Foundation and the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

• Dates: 4x Wednesdays (22/29 September, 6/13 October) from 10.15-13.30.