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My Alexander Story

As an eager and ambitious flute student I expended lots of energy to improve my technique and musicianship, including long hours at the instrument and tons of scales. By the end of my senior year of college I was burnt out mentally and experiencing pain in my forearms and wrists that seemed like a precursor to carpal tunnel syndrome. Luckily the pain went away after a period of rest but I knew I was on an unsustainable path.

I first learned about the Alexander Technique the following summer at a flute workshop and I was immediately intrigued. I had never considered how my whole body was a part of all my actions, from picking up a book to playing the flute. I remember listening to the end of class recital and marveling that my head could balance so lightly on the top of my spine – every moment of the concert was a unique opportunity to experience the music and myself in the most astonishing new way.

My excitement and appreciation for the technique grew as I began to understand that developing better flute chops meant learning to include the relationship of head, neck, and back to brain and arms and legs and fingers and embouchure – all the parts coming together to make a whole musical being. After 9 years of Alexander lessons and classes I knew I wanted to be able to share this wonderful discovery with my flute students and anyone else who was interested. I embarked on a 3 year, 1600 hour training course adventure and thus my life-long learning journey truly began!