Habits As The Cause Of Technical Difficulty

Recently I've been utilising the Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais Method to explore the causes of a potential pianistic injury that I'm intending to avoid. The more I've explored the more the issue seems to be with my fundamental quality of movement in all aspects of my life. Below are my thoughts about habits that contribute to our playing, some of which are more obvious than others: Piano playing is a complex task made up of lots of simple actions. When we approach the piano we are victims of our own habits of: 1. Sitting - more and more I realise how much this so called "position" should in fact be very mobile. 2. The thought or idea of the piano - I find that although I can sit at the piano and maintain awareness, that awareness is less encompassing than if I was just sitting in a chair away from the piano. However, if I touch the piano then my awareness disappears. I recently tested this, and found that after about five minutes of touching the piano I was able to regain my awareness, but noticed that just touching the instruments caused me to tighten my neck, compress my spine and shorten my arms. 3. Listening - I know that my idea of listening involves a tightening around my jaw and other areas of my face. At the piano, this becomes even more exagerrated. Of course, there is no need. When I inhibit the stimulus of listening, the tension is released and I start to hear more. Also, I find similar results from seeing, particularly when I'm sight reading. 4. Company - My experience of being around other people demonstrates to me time and again that it is much harder to leave one's habits and stay aware than it is when one is alone. This is what Alexander referred to as the "herd instinct". I notice this particularly when I'm teaching, usually by the end of a lesson I've lost any awareness that I've cultivated beforehand. So, my conclusion is that when we play the piano we're getting hit by at least three of the aforementioned habits - a triple whammy of potential misuse and tension. It's amazing that we can even play the piano at all. I certainly realise now why I've been having problems recently and over the last few years, and can now start work on resolving these issues. Alexander and Feldenkrais asked each of us to be scientists in the purest sense of the word - to ask questions, devise experiments to test these questions and analyse the answers. I feel now I'm starting to gain some insight into how they operated. I'm interested to see what experiences other people have had along similar lines.

Fascinating perceptions, Nick. If you are aware enough to perceive all that, you are well on your way to resolving these issues or at least experiencing change with them... Mazeltov! AFF

Just realised I missed an obvious one from the list: breathing. I've come to notice that I tighten around my jaw and nose when I breathe, which is obviously unnecessary. The tightening around my jaw has the knock effect of limiting my ability to hear.

This problem is far more prevalent than most people realize. Again, hats off for recognizing it and beginning to resolve it. All best, AFF

Alan, I thought you might be interested to know I had my first FI lesson a couple of days a go. Based on what I told her the practitioner worked on getting some symmetry in my shoulder girdle as I have the habit of pulling my right shoulder back. It's fair to say it had a positive effect. My brain felt completely fried at the end of the session - I think it was unable to keep up with all of the unfamiliar changes occurring. I've noticed a lot more along the lines of things I've mentioned in this thread since then and I've found it much easier to tune into myself and stay in the present.

So glad to hear you have discovered the miracles of FI! Ahhh, the fried brain syndrome, I know it well... AFF

I'm looking forward to having my brain fried many more times! Over the last couple of days I've been making sure I only play the piano when I'm in a state of good use. I tend to practice playing notes with one finger until I notice my awareness slipping away. While I am present my problems are non-existent, and I'm notice that my sound is becoming very direct and chiselled. It will be interesting to see what the next week brings.

Onward and inward! AFF

I'm going to post my most recent observation: real movement is easy. Playing the piano is easy. Anything one can think of is easy. Of course, stopping oneself from interference is not easy. Alexander said that, "We can throw away the habit of a lifetime in a few minutes if we use our brains.", to which Pedro de Alcantara adds, "The catch is that it takes a lifetime to learn to use our brains.". Alan, you mentioned in another thread that you Tai Chi teacher Sam Slutsky has a way of visualising movement without the habitual tensions, but that you couldn't describe it. He sounds like he has learned to use his brain. I hope to make it over to Montreal someday to take some classes with him. It's all interesting and there is always a new challenge!

Part of my next book will attempt to describe what Sam does but it won't be easy! Glad you are having these insights, what a rich outcome from that one weekend together! All best, AFF