An embodied mindful approach to playing, practice and performance.
STANDARD: ALL
Resident: £402 Non-Resident: £292 (25% off for under 27s) Code: 24/245
Booking for Members and Non-Members now open.
What is the course about?
Through hands-on experience, Lucy and Ruth offer simple tools to relieve stress, ease tension and suggest strategies to help overcome fear/nerves onstage and off.
Lucy and Ruth are both professional musicians and qualified Mindfulness teachers, who share a dedicated yoga practice. For over a decade, they have been specialising in helping musicians, at all levels, who suffer from tension and anxiety around playing. They will offer the tools that have helped them transform their own relationship to their instruments, whether teaching or performing. There is a kinder, more positively aware, spacious and calm approach towards being a musician.
Tutor websites: ruthphillips.com fitzwilliamquartet.com/lucy-russell
What will we cover?
We will talk about:
Mindfulness of Breath
How breath provides a sense of solidity, an anchor in the present moment which is both calming and grounding and influences our posture, bowing and phrasing.
Mindfulness of Body
How well do we know our bodies from the inside out? When we stop trying too hard, we can find a way of softening and dissolving the tensions which were previously ‘unfelt’ or un-noticed. Developing a greater physical awareness and relationship with our own bodies through grounding and balance.
Mindfulness of Thoughts
Learning how to differentiate between helpful and unhelpful thoughts. Noticing how they have the power to sabotage our practice and performance, and learning how to let them pass and come back into presence.
Mindfulness of Emotions
Exploring how we can meet challenging emotions - like fear, doubt and despondency.
Mindfulness of Intention
How practices such as self-compassion and kindness can help transform our relationship to ourselves and therefore to our audience.
You will embody the practices, share and play, and Lucy and Ruth will demonstrate how each practice relates to the particular challenges of a musician’s life. There will also be the opportunity to explore ways of befriending the relationship we have to our instruments in smaller groups, playing and sharing with each other in an entirely supportive and non-judgmental environment.
What will we accomplish? By the end of this course you will have
By the end of the course you should have enough tools to sustain a regular meditation practice and be able to play with more ease, focus and friendly self-awareness.
The aim of the course is to introduce life-long skills which can promote healthy, happier music-making, prevent self-injury, enhance and sustain the joy of playing music.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is open to all amateurs, students, professionals and teachers of music. Anyone wishing to free up their experience of playing or teaching an instrument.
How will the course be taught, and will any preparation be required?
The course will be taught in a group with the occasional exercise in pairs or triads. Each day will start and end with a guided meditation on a specific aspect of playing and practicing mindfully. There will be an opportunity for talking about /sharing your experiences and for playing to one another if you feel that would be helpful or to build in a 1-1 private consultation if that feels more safe.
There is no obligation to play.
Will music be provided in advance of the course?
N/A.
Is there anything I need to bring?
Comfortable clothing, yoga mat and your instrument.
What previous participants have said about Lucy and Ruth...
“You have really helped all of us. It has been a real wake up call for me and I’m very excited to see where I go next from here with this. Thank you!”
“I learnt a lot for my personal life as well as playing. You made it a comfortable space in which to contribute and created a sense of community. You’re an absolute natural! “
“Ruth opened my eyes to a completely new way of approaching my instrument; marrying movement and breath, and helping me feel more grounded. I can’t recommend her enough! ”
“Ruth is masterful at guiding musicians to become aware of and connect with their breath. Her warmth and knowledge shine through her teaching, and the result is bowing - and breathing - which is fluid and alive!”