“Everyone is a great singer in the shower” as the saying goes. It’s not just because of the acoustics: for many of us, the difference between how we make music when we are alone versus when we are observed can feel night and day. The same can be true whether we play guitar, violin, or piano: We tend to tense up when we perform.
In this introductory workshop, we will explore simple points of mindfulness from the Alexander Technique, a more than century old method that uses physical poise as a gateway to handling stress, that can help you to play like no one is watching, relax, and enjoy making music the way you deserve to. It can also help you to release physical tension that naturally comes up due to the mechanics of playing your instrument, deepen your breathing, and improve your sound by helping you to overcome technical obstacles. Bring an eight-16 bar excerpt to work with in a supportive, responsive, generous room. Great for musicians of any type and experience level.
Jeremy Cohn is a 1600-hour AmSAT certified Alexander Technique Teacher and founder of Freedom in Motion, a private studio located in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood (freedominmotionat.com). Through his studio he has worked with Grammy Award winning vocalists, Jeff Award winning actors, Olympic level athletes, and CEO level executives. He has worked with groups such as Anima Singers, The Chicago Vocal Arts Consortium, The National Association of String Teachers, and Morton College among others. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Theatre at Columbia College Chicago. He comes from a background as an actor and musician but loves working with anyone who wants to forge a better relationship with their body.
