Today on the TeachPianoToday Podcast we’re interviewing Robert Rickover; an expert in the Alexander Technique. For those of you who just asked “What’s that?”, or for those of you who have heard of the Alexander Technique but don’t know much about it, this podcast is for you!
Robert Rockover has been an Alexander Technique teacher for over 30 years. He works with groups and individuals helping them to identify ways they can use their bodies in a more efficient manner. For piano teachers, this technique is of particular interest as the Alexander Technique is frequently sought out by musicians looking to reduce pain, improve their technique and eliminate repetitive strain injuries.
How The Alexander Technique Can Impact your Studio
In the words of Robert… “If one of your piano students can’t do something that they should be able to do… the Alexander Technique can help”. As musicians, we ask our bodies to perform the same movements over and over. Even the slightest variation in our efficiency can impact many aspects of how we play.
Listen as we discuss:
- What is the Alexander Technique?
- How can this technique help our piano students?
- What teachers should be watching for when it comes to repetitive strain injuries
- Why piano teachers should seek out the Alexander Technique for their own benefit
- Two things piano teachers can do right now to increase their students’ awareness of their body movements
- …and much, much more!
Discover more about the Alexander Technique at Robert’s website
Listen Now
Click the player below to listen to the podcast interview, or visit our iTunes page to download it to your iPod.
Sam Marion says
I’m so glad to see this. I have been studying Alexander technique for the past 6 years. Heading to my 10nth 5-day intensive workshop next week. http://alexandertechniqueworkshops.com
Susan Benson says
This is a wonderful podcast! The Alexander Technique helped me so much with my piano playing by showing me how to get out of my own way. I recommend it to any musician who is in pain or who wants to play with greater ease.
lisa Block says
I’m one of those piano teachers who always has a skeleton perched on top of my piano! And I got the idea from my Alexander Technique teacher with whom I had lessons 20 years ago. The Technique made such a difference in my teaching and I’m pleased to see it getting the recognition it deserves.
William Vroom says
I am a retired pianist and piano teacher who is very, very grateful I had the chance to take a series of lessons with Robert Rickover (your guest) in Toronto back in the early 1980s. I’ve also occasionally had lessons with a teacher near me in San Jose where I now live.
Those lessons made such a difference to me – they opened up a whole new world of understanding about how my body works and how I could take charge of myself and how I function. When I came to Robert for lessons, I was about to quit music altogether because I had so much neck and shoulder pain and was tired of taking pain pills. It’s been a long time, but as I recall, it really only took a couple of lessons before things started getting better. I think I had about 15 lessons altogether at that time and they gave me 20-plus years of doing what I love!
Thank you Robert – Thank you Alexander Technique!