Session Descriptions

Basic Physiology
An overview of the physiology of abnormal muscle tension, soft tissue injury, pain, inflammation, and healing in the context of music-related injuries. The information will be presented using musician examples and demonstrations.

Feldenkrais® I-III
The Feldenkrais® method of movement education uses carefully planned movement sequences to improve and refine coordination, balance, posture, and sensitivity. The lessons are designed for people with varying levels of physical ability and have wide-ranging benefits for all musicians.

Learning Styles I-IV
Through specially designed activities and games, these workshops will explore each person's unique process of access, storage, and retrieval of information in the brain. A variety of diagnostic tools will be covered, with an emphasis on musical learning styles. Participants will also learn practice techniques to encourage a more holistic learning process, striving for injury prevention, performance preparation, and enhancement of overall musicianship. This information is pertinent for teachers, performers, and health care providers.

Instrument Demonstrations
Five basic instrument groups will be demonstrated: brass, strings, keyboards, voice, and reeds. The faculty and participants will discuss each performer's posture, instrument positioning, playing technique, and instrument adjustments.

Posture and Its Relation to Injury
An anatomical overview of both static and dynamic posture. The emphasis will be on efficient biomechanical movement of the musculoskeletal system involved in musical performance, with practical examples. Musicians can have their performance postures videotaped and analyzed.

Brain Gym
BrainGym is a system of targeted activities that prepare your brain and entire nervous system for optimal performance in all areas - intellectual, creative, athletic and interpersonal. Dr. Paul E. Dennison, Ph.D., an educational therapist, was the founder of Brain Gym. His research led him to the study of kinesiology, the science of body movement and the relationship of muscles and posture to brain function. Knowing that babies and young people naturally perform what are known as developmental movements, Dr. Dennison discovered how to adapt these movements so we can use them to stimulate our brains at all ages. These simple physical movements can bring about rapid and automatic improvements in energy levels, creativity, memory, focus, organization and comprehension.

Back Care
The care and prevention of back pain.

Hand Anatomy, Etiology of Common Conditions, and Intervention
The unique anatomy of the hand will be reviewed. Anatomical risk factors will be linked to the etiology of common hand conditions that performing artists suffer.

Biofeedback/Exercise
The use of biofeedback to examine and reduce muscular stress. Upper limb nerve gliding exercises will be taught and demonstrated.

Stress
The scientific basis of stress and the theory behind coping strategies.Learning Styles V
This session will examine current cultural trends that affect how we learn and make music. It will also describe some of the latest neurological research that sheds new light on the learning process, including studies of musicians. The format will be interactive, and practical applications will be demonstrated.

Pharmacology
The pharmacological treatment of pain, inflammation, and anxiety in musicians; the specific medications used; how these medications work; and their common side effects.

Physical Therapy Examination/Treatment
A case study will be presented, together with a full description and/or a demonstration of physical therapy examination and treatment techniques.

Stress Management with Breathing Exercises
The role of breathing in stress management and the use of breathing exercises for various psychophysiological training goals. The following topics will be covered:
• Healthy breathing and hyperventilation syndromes
• Breathing and heart rate variability
• Yoga, chi quong, Zen breathing, RSA (respiratory sinus arrhythmia) biofeedback training
• Sleep-breathing exercise monitored with biofeedback
• Short-term uses of breathing exercises for relaxation, performance preparation, precision sports, additional regulation of RSA
• Breathing exercises and stress hardiness

Functional Optometry
The effects of vision on the autonomic nervous system -- in particular, the relationship between vision and concentration, musculoskeletal movement, and muscle tension.

Therapeutic Massage
The benefits of massage will be discussed, and self-help techniques will be demonstrated, practiced, and examined.

Multidisciplinary Examination/Intervention
Feldenkrais® and physical therapy interventions will be combined and demonstrated on an injured musician.