More on "Constructive Rest"

Greetings,

I posted this article a few months ago after attending an Alexander Technique Workshop presented by Rachel Niketopoulos and Pam Nelson for the Raleigh Area Flute Association.

Since then, I have held several workshops with my students at Rachel's Raleigh studio. I have seen great improvements in each student who participated in at least one of these workshops.

We begin each workshop with 20 minutes of Constructive Rest to allow adequate time for our vertebrae to realign and our discs (which act as shock absorbers) to rehydrate.

I am a longtime Alexander Technique student myself, but only recently I have come to acknowledge that "Constructive Rest" is possibly the most helpful practice technique for wind players to improve their tone and breathing. I learned this from watching my students improve!

 Check out this Guide to Constructive Rest on http://alexandertechnique.com.

Soprano Andrea Matthews has prepared a teaching handout on Constructive Rest.

I recently discovered another great Alexander Technique resource: Sarah Chatwin's Alexander Technique website and blog. Sarah offers a free e-course if you sign up for her email newsletter. I now look forward to my email reminders about all things "Alexander!"

Best,
Catherine

Frederick Fennell: A Life of Joyful Discovery

Greetings,

Inspiring four minute trailer for A Life of Joyful Discovery, a documentary about the icon of wind ensemble music, Frederick Fennell.

Here are my favorite quotes from Fennell in the trailer:

• “Your business is to make music with the people in front of you. It doesn’t matter who they are.”
• “…feel their contact with each other…their reaching out beyond themselves to other people.”
• “They were not just players, they were listeners, and that’s were they were the kind of players they were., because they were the kind of listeners they were.”

Enjoy!
Catherine

"Bare Necessities" of Breathing

Greetings,

This week I have been rereading Lea Pearson's excellent book Body Mapping for Flutists.

On p. 87, Lea suggests learning to release the gluteal muscles for better breathing by thinking of Baloo from Disney's The Jungle Book animated movie.

I hope you enjoy this infectiously happy clip from The Jungle Book. While you watch, be aware of the back side of your body and, as Lea says, "shake your booty!"

Best,
Catherine

The Pez Dispenser vs. The Nutcracker

Greetings,

The images represent 2 distinct "mappings" of the jaw.

"Pez" throws his head back using his neck muscles to open his mouth. This puts extreme stress on his vocal cords, throat, and upper back. "Nutcracker" drops his jaw open from it's natural hinge.

So...breathe more like Mr. Nutcracker, avoiding the "flip-top head" syndrome demonstrated by Mr. Pez. Even better is to breathe most of the time from the sides of your mouth, leaving your jaw in a neutral,natural position.

Happy Breathing!
Catherine

Fluteachniques™: "Up for the Count": New Use for Your Instrument Peg

Greetings,

I hope you find this tip useful, or, at least, amusing!

All the best,
Catherine

One-of-a-Kind, One-Handed Saxophone

Greetings,

My former student Daniel Stover suffered a stroke in 2008, losing movement in his left arm together with the ability to play his clarinet and saxophone.

Thanks to University of Nebraska at Kearneys's One-Handed Woodwinds Program, Daniel can now return to playing and teaching music. Daniel recently traveled to Kearney, Nebraska to pick up his one-of-a-kind, one-handed saxophone.

Pictured is Daniel Stover with his Selmer Mark VI saxophone recently converted to a right handed toggle mechanism by Jeff Stelling of Kearney, Nebraska. Photo by April Dawn Refior. Engraving by Jason Dumars.

David Nabb, founder of the One-Handed Woodwinds Program, is Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Since surviving a stroke in 2000, Nabb has worked with woodwind craftsman Jeff Stelling to develop a saxophone that can be played with the right hand only. Their combined efforts garnered a Kennedy Center VSA (Very Special Arts) award last year.

Stelling comments on his efforts: " …although I can't know exactly what these people have gone through with disabilities, I can just imagine getting my life back, being able to do what was my passion in life again. And so it's really great to give them an opportunity to have that back."

The following video is a television interview after Daniel received his converted saxophone.


For close-ups of the one-handed mechanism in action, check out this performance video: David Nabb (saxophone) and Nathan Buckner (piano) play Diversion by Bernhard Heiden with this one-handed Yamaha Custom saxophone adapted by Stelling Brass & Winds.

Kudos to all involved for their ingenuity, resilience, and perseverance. I am looking forward to hearing Daniel on his prized new instrument when I am in Texas in March!

Best,
Catherine

The Art of Jean-Pierre Rampal - Radio-Canada Telecasts 1956-1966.

Greetings,

Almost 2 hours of Rampal in his prime! So wonderful!
Enjoy!

Catherine