Holistic String Playing
The Harmony of Body, Mind and Heart (16+)
Summer School for Adults
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Overview
This in-person course combines three holistic topics of immense benefit to musicians. Mindfulness includes mind, breath, body, and heart practices that quieten the inner critic and invite self-compassion. This can help reduce performance anxiety and build, in its place, a new and spontaneous connection with ourselves and our audience. Body Mapping is a somatic method that trains musicians to move according to the true anatomical design of their body. By identifying and correcting misconceptions about how the body is structured or how it is designed to move, we can increase facility and avoid injury. Alexander Technique is a method of self-development which helps us become more aware of the way we think and move in our everyday activities and as musicians. It helps us discover how to release tension in our muscles and explore our physical/mental habits in both practice and performance.
Each of these compliments the others and together they provide a powerful toolkit for performers, teachers and students, helping with freedom in playing, injury avoidance, and stage fright.
Distinctiveness
This is a unique course in that it brings together three distinct yet connected disciplines. Free and healthy playing is intrinsically linked to balance and to the quality of our movement. The Alexander Technique and Body Mapping inform this process, providing anatomical awareness and practical application of this to our movement. Mindfulness underpins the study of both of these, while also leading to the exploration of performance anxiety and the building of positive relationships with our audience.
This course will provide the performer, student or teacher with new ideas, and allow them to explore and address their individual experiences of tension, anxiety and injury.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this course before you book it, please get in touch with us at summerschools@rcs.ac.uk.
FAQs
Please see our FAQs for more information about all aspects of choosing, booking and attending your course.
The important details
Age:
16+
Cost:
£320
Course Dates:
2 - 4 August 2024
Time:
Friday, 5pm - 9pm | Saturday, 10am - 5pm | Sunday, 10am - 4pm
Venue:
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G2 3DB
Course Information
The emphasis will be on providing information and skills to encourage balanced free motion and mindful awareness, while addressing bespoke individual concerns. This will include exploration of the anatomy of movement and its application to playing. The content will be delivered in a variety of ways, including hands-on practical sessions. It will allow participants to explore and question tension they may be holding in their playing, any pain or injury they experience, or anxieties about performance. There will be plenty of time for discussion, reflection, and experimentation in both large and small; group settings.
Further Information
We want to ensure as many children, young people and adult learners as possible can access the performing and production arts education that is offered through Short Courses at RCS. Financial support options available for Short Courses include:
Agnes Allan Bursary
Agnes Allan was a teacher, passionate about inclusion, and this bursary scheme exists to offer support to students to participate in the performing or production arts.
The Agnes Allan Bursary provides some support to students who may require financial assistance to take part in a short course in dance, drama, music, production or screen.
Anyone who wishes to take part in our Short Courses and faces a financial barrier can apply for bursary support to help meet the cost of tuition fees.
James McAvoy Drama Scholarships
BAFTA-winning and Golden Globe nominated actor James McAvoy is committed to nurturing the creative potential of young Scots who experience barriers to access and participate in drama at RCS Short Courses.
James is a graduate of the BA Acting programme at RCS and Patron of the Junior Conservatoire of Drama. The Glasgow-born actor has funded the new James McAvoy Drama Scholarships to enable young people to experience the world-class drama training at RCS as he did.
The scholarship aims to support applicants who would otherwise find meeting the cost of tuition fees at RCS a barrier to accessing pre-Higher Education drama training at the Royal Conservatoire.
You can find more information about these funds on our Financial Support page.