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You
may be thinking ‘yes, I know the Alexander Technique.’ After all, most of you will have been
fortunate enough to have had lessons at music college. But do you really know what it is, or how
it can help you in your everyday life and music-making? Here’s
my story: At age fifteen, I had an
eight week course of Alexander classes in a small group of young
musicians. What did I learn? Nothing more than that the Technique was
pleasant when applied to me. It was
relaxing and nice. So when I got to
the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) I thought, ‘I’ve done that. I don’t need it.’ Fortunately I had a very good friend who
suggested I sign up, so I did. After a
year of lessons, I read a book on the Technique, and for the first time ever
I
realised that it was something I had to
LEARN. You may be thinking, ‘well,
yes, of course I know that!’. But do you really? Several
years on, and many, many hours of Alexander learning later, I understand a
bit more. The effects are numerous,
and great. I thought it would make
horn playing easier. How? That I didn’t know. Has it worked? You bet.
No disrespect to my wonderful teachers at the RAM, but in my first
term of training as an Alexander teacher, my horn playing improved more than
in four years at the RAM. No
exaggerating. And I have continued
making leaps and bounds of improvement ever since. My Alexander teachers were not musicians,
and never worked with me whilst playing.
By freeing up excess muscle tensions, I freed up my mind. I started to think more clearly, and recognise ways in which I was causing my own
difficulties. There is an old Chinese
proverb saying, ‘Why do you throw stones in your path, when the way is clear?’. I
now have a renewed passion for my instrument, and find music to be not only
far more enjoyable than previously, but also as my Alexander teacher at the
RAM suggested it would be effortless.
I don’t know of any other method of learning that allows a person to
say that! Kerin Black is a
London freelance horn player and teacher of the Alexander Technique. For more information on the Alexander
Technique, or to arrange lessons, please call Kerin
on 07958 648 698, or send an e-mail to
kblack@frenchhorn.fsnet.co.uk
© Kerin Black 2002 |
Current Staffing : Managers: Abbie & Tania Co-ordinators: Amy Angela Ashley Dominic Mary Oliver Rosie |
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CV PUBLICATION Fixers will be receiving our next full CV publication this month. If you would like to update your current CV, or have not
yet added it to our publication and would like it to be included, the
deadline for entries is the 1st September 2002. Remember it is free and goes out to all fixers, as well as going on our website. |
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Bulletin Board |
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If there is anything that you
would like to see included in the next edition of the newsletter please let
us know, either by phone, e-mail or fax. Whatever you have to offer we will
be pleased to hear from you. Please let us know as soon as you can, and we’ll
do our best to include something in the next publication. This also applies to having your
address and telephone number changes included in the Bulletin Board section
of the newsletter. ________________________ |
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The MAS clients listed below have
recently changed address and/or telephone numbers; please check with MAS for
details. Phillip Aird
: Violin Paula Clifton-Everest : Violin David Lyon : Violin Christine Roberts : Clarinet Richard Ashton & Laura
Melhuish Tim Gill & Joely
Koos Lisa Osmialowski
: Flute Richard Wainwright : Horn Ruth Cohen : Viola Gary Kettel
& Anna Noakes Bob Porter
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Tax affairs and tax problems are different for each individual. If you think a chat with a tax expert
within the industry will help clarify your situation why not call MAS
approved tax advisor Mike Harding
for a free consultation. Mike Harding – Books & Co Mid-Day Court, 20 – 24 Brighton
Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5BN Tel: 020 8642 8687 Fax: 020 8643 8640 We guarantee you will not be pressurised in any way, during or after the consultation. |
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