For the last four years while studying at the Royal College of Music I have incorporated Alexander Technique into my daily violin practice. Many musicians turn to this technique after experiencing difficulty with their instrument; either having physical pain, extreme tendonitis or performance issues.

The Technique was created by F.M Alexander, a Shakespearean orator who began losing his voice during performances. After asking the advice of voice coaches, doctors and specialists without results, he finally attempted to resolve the problems himself. He studied his actions in detail while he practiced, always performing in front of a mirror so that he could thoroughly analyse what was going wrong. He found that the way he imagined using his body in performance was not as he perceived it to be. He developed the concept of primary control, which is the relationship between the head, neck and spine and allowing the muscles to relax, and subsequently used this as a primary influence for the whole body and general movement. This subtle awareness helps to stop oneself interfering by tightening the neck muscles. A way of helping your neck feel free is by doing semi-supine position, a pose that can be done easily in the practice room that promotes muscular relaxation. By taking a small amount of time out of your daily practice to do the semi-supine technique, you can make a massive difference to the tension that has been trapped in your body through unintentional habits and make them easier to overcome. It refreshes the mind for the next dose of practice, opening your senses, not focussing solely on anything but allowing you to submerge yourself into your surroundings. To be in the moment. concentrating fully and openly on what it is you want to achieve and what is happening in that moment of time.