Developing Ease & Awareness in Your Playing
Class Description
In this six week class we will work on building ease and awareness in order to increase your abilities as a player and performer. Understanding basic skeletal anatomy and natural mechanics of body motion can go a long way in creating fluid movement and developing excellent technique. In addition, heightened awareness of your body and its place in space while you play will help to produce a fuller, freer sound, reduce physical tension and increase your listening potential. With this template you will become aware of your physical and mental habits and be able to start redirecting your thinking to change unwanted habits. In addition, developing these skills helps to limit the chance of physical injury and lessen performance anxiety.
Class topics include
- Body Mapping: understanding skeletal anatomy through the use of models and visualization
- Alexander Technique Principles: Inhibition and Direction
- Listening and Judgment
- Performance Anxiety
- Injury Prevention
The class is open to all instrumentalists, not just violinists, ages 15 and above. The class is taught either in person at my home studio or online for those individuals who live far enough away to make in person participation prohibitive. The format is a combination of lecture, discussion, demonstration and experimentation. You will bring your instrument to each session and be given the opportunity to try techniques out by experimenting and/or performing independently.
- The cost for the class is $325
- We will meet for six consecutive weeks for 90 minutes each time
- Meeting times will be determined according to group availability
- You may register as a group or individually
- Class size is small; 4-6 people per class
Please contact me if you think you would like to participate or have further questions.
Testimonials
"Colleen’s Panoramic Performer Class is a wonderful way to experiment with how a better understanding of anatomy and body movement inspired by the Alexander Technique can lead to a much freer and more relaxed way of playing and moving through the day. The class format provided lots of time for instruction, experimenting with Alexander practices and movement, Q&A, and a “spotlight” on each participant. Having other folks in the class was incredibly helpful, as their self-observations often brought up something for me that I hadn’t realized. Colleen created a purposeful online space that modeled the kind of “in the lab” time that she encouraged us to try - thoughtful, creative, open, and non-judgmental. I thoroughly enjoyed the class and will be playing with what I learned in my home “lab” for months to come."
~Dana Polson, Baltimore, MD
"Colleen’s Panorama class was eye- and ear-opening, exploring the relationships between posture, balance, and alignment and their influence on how we play and what we hear when we’re playing. We learned a little about anatomy as it pertains to playing, and practical exercises for identifying and releasing tension. One of the most enjoyable aspects was the “spotlight” feature, a little like a Master Class, where each student in turn was featured in a practicum applying our new approaches. Taking this class with Colleen and meeting students from around the world was highly enjoyable and beneficial."
~Student, Brattleboro, VT
"It was really fun working with Colleen and the rest of the class! The learning environment was absolutely welcoming and productive. Colleen was very empathetic, especially when we shared our personal experiences and the issues we were struggling with. She was always able to provide some supportive advice, and experiment in class with us, to see if some exercises/methods work. Through demonstrations and hands-on exercises, I felt more aligned with my physical being and more mindful, especially when picking up my instrument to practice. This course has taught me so much about myself and pointed me in the right direction in improving my quality of life; not just physical, but also mentally and emotionally. It has become a way of life!"
~Vivien Chong, Singapore
"I highly recommend Colleen's Panoramic Performer class. Colleen is such a thoughtful teacher and gave us practical insight into the Alexander Technique. "
~Patty Ladpli, Madison, WI