The Feldenkrais Method transforms traditional piano instruction by integrating body awareness with musical learning. Watch authentic teaching moments where physical tension release, pattern recognition, and conscious movement control create breakthrough learning experiences
Born in Montreal in 1955 Alan Fraser studied piano but also delved into composition, cello, classical singing and had several stints as a pop musician. Alan’s main pianistic influence was the pioneering research of Phil Cohen who studied alongside Ronald Turini, Andre Laplante and Janina Fialkowska with Yvonne Hubert, who had been Cortot‘s assistant in Paris. Alan spent several years with Cohen after an apprenticeship with two former Cohen students, Alan Belkin and Lauretta Milkman.
A student shares their experience of feeling increased balance, structure, and freedom in their body after Awareness Through Movement (ATM) sessions, while Alan explains how emotional releases during Feldenkrais work represent personal growth and the importance of agency in self-development
A student discusses their progress in becoming more aware of left hand movements, developing a stronger sense of agency, and using a metronome app at a slow tempo to better understand the rhythmic pattern across bar lines
Alan demonstrates the importance of proper hand positioning to reduce tension in the thumb while playing, showing how thumb placement affects fluidity and comfort for both beginner and experienced pianists
Alan guides a student on the benefits of thinking in note groups rather than individual notes, demonstrating how perceiving two-note patterns can make learning piano pieces more efficient and manageable
Playing solid chords, discussing fingering techniques, learning processes, and music notation conventions such as courtesy naturals and accidentals within bar lines
Alan guides a student through the process of mastering chord transitions by using breathing techniques, body movement, and pattern recognition to develop deeper muscle memory and brain connections
Alan demonstrates how to identify and understand recurring patterns in sheet music notation, exploring the relationships between notes on the staff to develop more efficient sight reading skills for pianists
We explore techniques for reading musical patterns rather than individual notes, emphasizing how recognizing intervals and chord structures can improve sight-reading, while also highlighting the critical importance of keeping your mind ahead of your fingers during practice to develop good habits
