Often musicians overreact to the musical intentions of a composer, or to conductors and teachers attempting to get specific results. In soft passages, perhaps players restrain themselves with muscular tension instead of maintaining ease in their bodies and using the techniques required by their instruments. Over time, these kinds of overreactions can develop into habits of misuse, and layers of tension may cause players frustration and even injuries.
At these times, musicians turn to Lori Schiff, full time professor of the Alexander Technique at The Juilliard School.
The Alexander Technique is an educational method developed in the 1890s by Australian actor Frederick Matthias Alexander, who, while trying to recover his own voice when doctors could not help him, found the reason for his problem was excessive tension in his neck and body. He also discovered that when he changed his mental and physical habits, the problem disappeared.
