Through her business, MoveWell, Kimberly Clark is dedicated to empowering musicians to gain freedom and ease in their playing and to avoid injury through movement education for musicians. Musicians all over the world suffer from limitations in their playing. It could be a harpist who can’t reach all of the strings comfortably or a flutist who can’t articulate notes quickly. It could be a vocalist who cannot sing long phrases or a pianist whose back aches. Limitations like these can interfere with the quality of music making. In many cases these issues can keep us from reaching our full potential; for others it can be injurious and career ending. 

Alexander Technique and Body Mapping are two somatic (of the body) teachings that can help individuals better sense their movement and the quality of their movement. We learn to identify when our movement feels balanced vs. unbalanced, fluid vs. tight, easy vs. effortful, etc. The two studies are similar in many respects but also have some differences.

Alexander Technique was created more than 100 years ago by F.M. Alexander. Alexander discovered what he called “primary control” which is your body’s natural ability to be effortlessly upright. Over time we develop physical habits that cause us to interfere with our primary control which can lead to pain and injury. Alexander Technique is a tool to help you rediscover your body’s natural uprightedness and to free you from unnecessary tension. AT is well know in the performing arts (music, theater, and dance) but is useful in all activities and daily life. Marge Barstow, one of the early pioneers of the Alexander Technique, described the work as a practice in “energy conservation.”

Alexander Technique is a hands-on discipline, meaning a teacher must touch you to help you sense the quality of your movement and to help guide you to better poise and ease. While some study can be done on your own you must have a teacher.

Your body map is your brain’s interpretation of how your body is built and how all of the parts work in relationship to one another. The importance of Body Mapping is that we move how we think we are put together rather than how we are actually constructed. A faulty map can lead to misuse and injury while a good map allows fluid movement and ease in playing, singing, or conducting.What Every Musician Needs to Know about the Body is a six hour course in Body Mapping designed for musicians and music teachers. Students of the course will learn about their bodies and how its use or misuse affects their playing. Performers will gain valuable insight into “postural habits” and how to release them. Teachers will learn how to present this information and create free and resonant music with their students.eople more about this item. What’s it about and what makes it interesting? Give people the info they need to go ahead and take the action you want. To make this item your own click here > Add & Manage Items.