TEACHING BODY AWARENESS FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE, PRACTICE AND INJURY PREVENTION
Our culture puts an emphasis on intellectual knowledge, which focuses on mastering the cognitive side of playing an instrument. But what about the full-body, energizing experience of playing an instrument? Learning how to tune into the body has great benefits:
- Injury prevention
- More productive practice
- More fun and energizing performances
Mary will discuss the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems and how they affect practice, performance, and injury prevention; techniques to switch your body in the moment from a stress response to a relaxed response; and games you can play with your students.
MASTERCLASS OPTION: Follow up this workshop with a masterclass implementing the topics discussed. It’s a great way to see these ideas in action as students play the piano. Be prepared for a whole new experience playing that will only enhance what you are already doing.
TO BOOK THIS WORKSHOP FOR YOUR MUSIC TEACHERS GROUP, EMAIL MARY AT: mary@BodyAwarenessForMusicians.com.
TESTIMONIES: Here’s what past participants are saying:
“The morning flew by as I tried to absorb, remember, understand, take notes of everything I heard, saw and did following your directions. Besides being extremely information, you were warmly entertaining and your enthusiasm about your whole subject would have made Thomas the Doubter apostle an instant believer and follower. I will share your suggestions with my small group of students. I am so grateful I was there. “ — Agnes
“I have thought about your extraordinary workshop many times since I attended your presentation. You are on to something that is crucial to musicians, and you are addressing it in a more comprehensive way than what I have previously heard. You are a great communicator! What you have come upon intuitively, or as a result of your martial arts education, you have been able to transfer to your performance of music, and then been able to verbalize to others. You have connected the dots. You made us feel the transformation. You also made us feel your passion for wanting other to have that transformation too. I really felt that you wanted to share that freedom and joy in making music that you have found and have kept feeling. Your approach rings true, and I believe that lots of people could benefit greatly by hearing your presentation.” — Judy
ABOUT MARY WALBY
Mary Walby studied piano at Washington State University under the late Ruby Bailey Ronald, and performed piano duet recitals with her former high school teacher, Mary Ellen Cavelti, NCTM.
In 2010 she was the founding chairperson of the Bellingham Center of the National Guild of Piano Teachers. Shortly thereafter, she founded Discovery Music Academy, LLC to promote ensemble playing among students and their friends from the very beginning of lessons. In 2012 she received an MTNA Teacher Enrichment Grant to attend the Alan Fraser Summer Piano Institute.
She has been teaching private piano lessons for over 15 years, and spent 12 years as a church accompanist. Her interests outside of music include training in the martial art of aikido and rehabbing retired senior horses and reversing the effects of chronic stress.
