This ebook, An Alexander Technique Approach to Conducting (Conductors’) Technique, is published on this website in a PDF format. It is very detailed and practical, and it will give you the physical tools you need to take the limits off of your ability to create the accurate conducting technique you want without sacrificing your body.
This ebook is also for sale on all AMAZON websites in a KINDLE format.
Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. (MOVEMENT THERAPY)
IT IS AMAZING HOW EASY IT IS TO JUST HUNKER DOWN AS YOU CONDUCT WITH PASSION, AND DRIVE YOURSELF WITH GREAT LOVE AND CRUELTY TO THE GOAL OF CONDUCTING A GREAT WORK BEAUTIFULLY, NO MATTER THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COST.
I really love to write about conductors who demonstrate their love for conducting by practicing consistently many hours a day, conducting the greatest orchestral and/or choral music, because of this love for conducting.
From my perspective as an Alexander Technique teacher, is it truly loving to conduct hours a day, if you’re conducting music that opens your heart, if you’re HARMING your body? Let me state it a different way: Do you have to pay a physical price to conduct the most amazing orchestral and/or choral music well?
I believe many, if not most conductors believe so. As far as I can see, highly motivated conductors are the same in approach and expectations as highly competitive athletes. They both drive themselves to excel, no matter the physical price. They both figure they’ll get injured at some point, go through rehab, and eventually get back to their sport or conducting.
Let me give an Alexander Technique definition of conducting lovingly.
YOU CAN CONDUCT WITH GREAT PASSION, AND MOTIVATE YOURSELF WITH GREAT LOVE IN YOUR GOAL OF CONDUCTING A GREAT PIECE BEAUTIFULLY, WITHOUT PAYING A PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COST, IF YOU STEP BACK AND ACQUIRE AND OBSERVE A CONDUCTING TECHNIQUE THAT WORKS.
What is a conducting technique that works? IT IS A CONDUCTING TECHNIQUE THAT BRINGS GREAT EASE AND FACILITY TO CONDUCTING THE GREATEST ORCHESTRAL AND/OR CHORAL MUSIC WITHOUT CAUSING WEAR AND TEAR TO THE BODY, NO MATTER HOW EXPRESSIVELY YOU CONDUCT.
Here is where I wanted to get to in this article. A conductor is more likely to hunker down and get into physical trouble, the greater his or her love is for conducting and its finest literature.
Why? Because it is at this point of wanting to conduct the finest orchestral and/or choral music at the performance level, that the conductor hunkers down posturally, to MAKE the orchestra and/or choral group do what he or she wants.
So, can you conduct amazingly expressively with great facility, and not get injured eventually? YES!
How? You realize you can be 100% present when you conduct, fully in the moment as you conduct. What does being “fully in the moment” when you conduct mean? THIS MEANS AS YOU PRACTICE, YOU ARE FOCUSING ON CREATING/USING A CONDUCTING TECHNIQUE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO BE EFFORTLESSLY STANDING FULLY UPRIGHT BALANCED ON YOUR LEGS, AND YOU ARE NOT MAKING A HEROIC EFFORT TO CONDUCT WELL. YOU TRUST YOUR HANDS AND ARMS TO CONDUCT WELL AND TO EXPRESS WHAT IS IN YOUR BRAIN WITHOUT STRAINING FOR THE GOAL OF MUSICAL PERFECTION.
In other words, you are simultaneously in the present, consciously doing the least amount of physical work as you conduct, as you listen to what is coming out of the orchestra and/or singers. This means you don’t listen to the inner critic, who wants to FORCE you to just go for it at the expense of your mind, heart, body, and performers.
Here’s why going for the performance at any cost is not loving. IF YOU DRIVE YOURSELF MERCILESSLY TO CONDUCT A WORK BEAUTIFULLY, THEN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN A LOVING PLACE MOST OF THE TIME. Why?
Because, if you are always striving nonstop for the perfect performance, you definitely will NOT create the best possible conducting technique, you will NOT reach this goal most of the time, and you will attack yourself when you fail to conduct the way you want – getting the result you want from the performers.
So, I’m asking as you learn to conduct the greatest orchestral and/or choral music at the highest level, you use the most user-friendly conducting technique. Stand expansively balanced on released legs (not bent knees), using the least amount of physical work, with great self-awareness throughout this whole learning/mastering the music process.
