Pianists are all too familiar with symptoms that suggest the body is not effectively meeting the demands their art puts on it.  These pains are reduced or resolved when the whole body works in concert, rather than against itself.  Learning Alexander Technique addresses the conditions manifesting as pain and discomfort. Once familiar with the basics, the challenge then is to apply the technique as part of activity.

Frustrations with technique arise when we can’t see beyond our limitations.  A teacher versed in Alexander Technique and piano technique can see when issues with hand position or movement are manifestations of issues with seating position or orientation.  The student can learn a way of thinking that generates a positive alignment and supports his or her playing.

When one learns to maintain Alexandrian thinking and musical intention, the performer has a powerful tool to deal with performance anxiety.  The performance follows the artist intentions as the artist acquires mastery of him or herself.  Distracting gesture and unwanted physical responses disappear as the student applies technique, leaving high performance unimpeded.

The fingers are our interface with the instrument, the hand shapes them, the arm guides them, the torso supports the arm and is dependant on the poise of the head and base of the legs and feet.  The technique of piano playing is only complete when it addresses the whole body.  What’s more, attending to the whole body means co-ordinating the hands and fingers., so the technique of piano playing and technique of Alexander’s become one!

Speed, agility, dynamic control, articulation – all these respond to improved efficiency of the whole being. Since Alexander Technique so effectively deals with learning and habit modification, it even improves consistency and memory!  If piano and Alexander techniques are truly integrated in education, any habit learnt can be improved on.  New patterns are learnt so they will become a catalyst for progress.  The Integrated Pianist Method is the most efficient and effective way to learn piano.