The path to where I am today had some interesting twists and turns. At the beginning of my doctoral studies, I had a car accident that left me with several injuries, one of which was to my hand and wrist. Unable to play the piano, I had to cancel upcoming performances and face the uncertainty of whether I could continue to pursue my degree and remain a professional pianist. As a former athlete, I knew it would take time to heal, so I was ready for a long journey. While working through my injuries in physical therapy, I gradually began to play the piano again. My hand injury gave me feedback when I didn’t move efficiently—in other words, I couldn’t get away with anything anymore!

During that time, I realized that paying attention to my body at the piano was the only way I’d be able to continue playing long term. Just as athletes focus on form to maximize their use of energy, musicians need awareness of body movement at their instrument. Working to recover from injuries as an athlete taught me to be extremely aware of how I was moving, and that’s the lesson I was learning to apply to piano playing through this experience. In more recent years, my Alexander Technique studies have taken this awareness to the next level, allowing me to play with even more ease and efficiency.

When I work with a pianist, it’s important to me that they’re able to play in a sustainable way. I want to help free them of unnecessary tension and allow them to enjoy playing the piano to their full potential. It’s inspiring to watch as they learn to release old tensions and engage their technique to its fullest capacity. For piano teachers, the benefits to their students are numerous, and pianists with busy performing schedules are able to manage their workload more easily, avoiding fatigue and injury.

Maybe you’re starting to feel some pain as a result of your performance schedule, or you’ve already developed an injury. Perhaps you’re a piano teacher who wants to continue your education because you know how much it will benefit your students. Either way, learning to apply Alexander Technique to the skills you already have will be a great help. Learning something new as a professional can be daunting, but this approach will allow your technique to function at its full capacity. If any technical adjustments are necessary, they’ll be much easier to make because you’ll be using your whole body wisely.

Playing with a healthy and sustainable approach is vital for any pianist. If you’re open to new ideas and ready to find more ease in your playing, consider this your invitation to find out more about how we can work together.