Alexander Technique interview with Rachelle Tsachor

What is your definition of the Alexander technique?

A technique for consciousness of how you are doing what you do.

How can it be applied to musicians?

Learning the alexander technique helps the musician be aware of what they are thinking, and how they are carrying out that thinking in action, so that they add stress into the system.

What is your view on performance anxiety/how do you handle it?

Notice the thinking/stimulus, and then notices the response to the thinking. Sees if she wants to think of something different so not building up stress.

Are there certain techniques that are helpful in getting rid of tension for performance anxiety?

Alexander technique. Allowing the neck to be free is a start and let the body come out of startle and into a more balanced readiness.

Do you think it’s ever possible to completely get over performance anxiety/stiffening of the body?

One can become an expert in response to a stimulus. Becoming empowered.

Interesting experiment: She asked me how I feel about performance anxiety and as I told her how I felt, she said I tensed up and the color in my face actually changed a little.

Its important to notice our response to an anxiety.  Also noticing the physical response to a stimulus and then undoing the physical response.

Extra:

Movement helps relax from the stress.

Stress responses: Fight, flight, freeze, flop

Watch me play in my excerpt group! We still have work to do on our releases and such but we have been making progress. One very important thing I learned at the last coaching was about breathing and how you need to come in confidently and in time after you take a breath rather than hesitating and causing different entrances. Also a clip of our best take is here

I have been working out more regularly! I am feeling so much better about my practicing even though I am busier especially when adding a work out. Funny how things work that way. On Monday, I will be interviewing someone over the Alexander technique, and I am looking forward to learning more about it. Tomorrow I will be performing in seminar, and can't wait! Wish me luck :)

So I've been working out and playing which I think has been beneficial! The only thing is, I am not as motivated because I am tired after I work out. After getting into practicing, I have been more focused and relaxed.. its just getting to the practicing part which can be difficult after doing an intense work out.

Yesterday I did a workout before I played which included riding a bike for 15 minutes, and doing a few cycles of pushups, lunges, jumping jacks, sit ups, etc. Needless to say, I am very sore today especially since I haven't worked out like that for a while. When I practiced after exercising, at first I felt very tired. I did my usual warm up of arpeggios and long tones, and I found with these I played very loud naturally, but I was tired. After playing for around forty five minutes I really got calmed down and this eventually helped my playing. I was more successful with controlling my breathing. Exercising was very beneficial to my playing, and I'm excited to see how I feel when doing this more often this week.

This week's update!

Plan...

So my plan is during spring break to do cardio before I play and see how that influences me. The week after spring break I am going to be interviewing someone over the Alexander Technique so that will be beneficial.

Performance Anxiety Interviews

Professor Parker(Oboe) Playing for around 28 years

What is the mind set you have before/during a performance?

Very balanced blend of excited and anxious, and during very focused.

Are there any techniques you use to calm nerves before the performance?

Meditation, listening to music, calming body through deep breathing. Hasn’t had a lot of success with that. Mostly time and experience, and excellent preparation is what keeps him successful with his playing.

What movitvates you during a performance?

The music. Conveying the character with as much beauty and elegance as possible.

What are some things you think about when you mess up during a performance? Do you ignore it?

Has two minds: can’t believe he did that, and then other mind says its fine and go even deeper. Easy to get a little paralyzed. Makes it seem like its part of the music, and the audience should get used to hearing it. Play anything and everything with confidence no matter what happens.

How have your nerves been over the years?

Have they gone away, decreased, or increased?

They’ve gotten better. Had really bad nerve troubles in college, time and experience have helped.

Do you know of any relaxation techniques in general?

Using the energy and recalibrating what performance anxiety is and what nervousness is. Performance anxiety shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing, its an adrenaline rush that prepares you for the performance.

How often do you try playing things from memory, and has that been beneficial/would you recommend it?

Not often in performances, and thinks its beneficial because it has to be so well prepared and it will carry it through. Accepting, and taking it in makes it seem not as bad.

Do you think separating the mind from the actual pages of music can help musicality, or do you think its beneficial in any way specifically?

 It can help musicality and prepare for the performance. You enter more of an internal place and don’t have much distraction with looking at the page.

Extra note:

Thought a lot about anxiety, and got nervous a lot but realized part of problem is we perceive it as a bad thing. Its really is just adrenaline, to help us perform better. Recalibrate approach as something beneficial and incorporate it in our performance.

How you carry yourself: Always thinks about confidence going out on stage. Even if nervous, acting confident can actually cause confidence. Audience notices discomfort right away and that can become vicious circle if you are giving an uncomfortable vibe.