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50 Hortense St
Glen Iris, VIC, 3146
Australia
0490 126 293
Practice of Jeremy Woolhouse, pianist and Alexander Technique Teacher in Melbourne, Australia
Specialist in working with musicians, RSI, posture re-education, neck, back and chronic pain management.
Monthly blog articles by Jeremy Woolhouse. Alexander Technique for daily life, music performance, specialised activities, pain relief and management.
Alexander Technique cultivates skilful use of thought. It undeniably trains positive thinking. It differs, however, from other practices commonly grouped under the ‘positive thinking’ umbrella. Practicing Alexander Technique principles may help in assessing the value of other ‘positive thinking’ practices, and assist in making them constructive.
Read MoreExercise is touted as the key to sustained good health. For many, the practice of exercise is unfortunately failing to achieve healthy outcomes. One hour of exercise per day is often not the panacea to spending the rest of the day sedentary. Alexander Technique presents a wholistic approach both to exercise, and to purportedly sedentary routines. It can keep exercise healthy, safe and fulfilling.
Read MoreThe Alexander Technique has a remarkable relevance to any vocation - be it trade, art or sport. It deals with fundamentals of human coordination and has a set of principles which organise specialised skills into a constructive framework. Effective prioritisation of attention is a characteristic of positive coordination. Many attempts to find relief from pain, or to improve performance, fail because a certain hierarchy is neglected.
Read MoreA downwards orientation of the self creates a compressing, depressive force. Alexander Technique directions are sometimes abbreviated as “Think Up!” - a universal tonic to downward orientation. The upward direction may stimulate positive engagement with gravity and energise activity. A consideration of the distinction between ‘buoyancy’ and ‘opposition’ may add some refinement to the concept of ‘up’.
Read MoreIn any educational process, there are inevitable ups and downs. When progress stagnates, this is an indicator that some mode of thought is preventing further development. One of the most confounding barriers to a musician is when an intention for musicality inadvertently creates conditions which limit performance.
Read MoreAlexander Technique is a process of removing interference. Without interference, concept flows into action effortlessly. Restrictions of physics still apply, so a conceived ideal may not be possible, but performance will be closest to intended, and most rewarding to the performer, when interference is minimised.
Read MoreA threefold process is at the core of Alexander Technique. Together, these three practices offer a concise springboard to its application. The acts are simple, the effects profound.
Read MoreThe frustration of lost car keys presents us with an opportunity to examine reaction and considered response. I use this example as an insight into the indirect nature of Alexander Technique, exploring the ‘end-gaining’ and ‘means-whereby’ attitudes.
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April 2006 is when I graduated as an Alexander Technique Teacher and began private practice. The ten years since have pass swiftly and I’m taking a moment to consider what has changed in my attitude and practice.
Read MoreBy its nature, Alexander Technique is indirect. It deals with unfamiliar sensations, and proposes new ways of thinking. Since its effects may also be very subtle, especially in the early stages of learning, students may be unsure if their practice outside of the lesson is “right”.
Read MoreAlexander Technique trains the use of oneself, in any situation. To the aspiring pianist, it is an effective technique to improve how one uses oneself at the piano. It falls short, however, of training a technique of playing the piano. Five years of territory study and additional years of private instruction gave me some ideas of piano technique, but there remained a incongruity between the coordination I’d learned through Alexander Technique, and what I understood the demands of playing the instrument to be. I discovered the Taubman Technique to be the bridge to that gap.
Read MoreTo have one’s eyes open seems like such a trivial thing. In the practice of Alexander Technique, however, it is an application of principles with deep implications. It challenges views on concentration and intention.
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