What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body

1 May 2016 - 10:00am to 5:00pm
Room 510, Aird Building, Faculty of Music
75 University Ave. West Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo
Phone: 519 578-3640

Workshops | What Every Musician Needs To Know About The Body

KIMBERLY BARBER, ANDOVER EDUCATOR®

Kimberly Barber is a Licensed Andover Educator teaching Body Mapping for Musicians. This course is for all musicians and can be tailored to suit specialized instrument groups as needed. This 6-hour course will be offered in one full day with an hour break (bring your own lunch!). The course will  focus on specific aspects of the work according to the needs of the group in question. For more information on body mapping click here or to visit Kimberly Barber's site click here.

SIX-HOUR COURSE

  • Focus: 
    Through visual, audio and physical experimentation, musicians are taught about their body map—the neuronal self-representation of their bodies in their brain. Participants are given detailed anatomical information about their body’s structure, function and size to encourage free, efficient movement in their playing or singing. The goal is the prevention of injury, freedom from pain and optimal use of their instrument/voice.
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    Format: 
    The course is presented in an informal setting throughout one-day. It consists of two three-hour sessions (with short breaks between) separated by a one-hour lunch break. Course groups generally consist of about 20 musicians. There is plenty of time given to embody the materials through practical exercises and explorations, examination of skeletal models and visual aids.

  • Content:
    Hour One: Somatics, Senses and Attention—understanding the basic principles of Body Mapping; learning to use the kinesthetic sense; cultivating inclusive awareness
    Hour Two: The Places of Balance—recognizing the weight bearing and delivery capacity of the skeleton, finding optimal postural balance and using it to mechanical advantage in singing and playing
    Hour Three: The Arm Structure—detailed anatomy and optimal use of the arm structure
    Hour Four: The Movement and Structures of Breathing—breathing, articulation, etc.
    Hour Five: The Lower Limb—function, structure and size of the leg for optimal movement in music making
    Hour Six: Practical Integration of Principles—participants are encouraged to bring their instruments and work with the instructor in a group setting to embody the principles learned in the course; instruction in Constructive Rest and other exercises to improve body awareness