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Many people find dedicating a chunk of time to come to AMS and La Alpujarra immensely helpful. Personal Programmes can be a minimum of 2 days and a maximum as long as is realistically possible. Personal Programmes are organized directly with Cat Jary, subject to her availability.
Personal Programmes are suitable for people suffering physical pain and tension, anxiety and blocks in their lives, and for musicians, actors or anyone looking to improve and enhance their performance in work related activities.
To find out more, or book a personal programme, contact Cat Jary:
Tel (0034) 958 857 481
Mob (0034) 600 056 159
email cat jary
Tuition Sessions
Tuition on AMS personal programmes usually consists of a pre-agreed amount of hours a day of formal lessons and discussions. Most people find a maximum of two classes a day is sufficient.
AMS requires no formal written work at the end of the programme, but many students find it useful to keep a diary of the sessions, both to refer to later to refresh their memory, and to see how they develop throughout the programme.
The tuition content is extremely similar to having a weekly lesson, but allows for more time to discuss the principals of the Technique, and how this is relevant in daily life.
Alexander Technique Lessons and Alexander Applied in Activity
The sessions will consist of:
- Discussions about relevant topics such as physical problems being experienced with the instrument, performance anxiety, background about FM Alexander and the Technique
- Practical Classic Alexander lessons: understanding faulty sensory perception, stimulus and reaction, end-gaining, awareness and inhibition
- Practical Alexander work, as outlined above, applied to playing the instrument
- Suggestions about how to apply this in one’s practice routine
- Understanding how awareness of oneself in normal daily activities can help to reduce the force of habits associated with skilled activities
For many musicians an instrument provides a huge stimulus, which a musician can end up reacting to in all manner of ways, few of which are often helpful in achieving the desired result. Frequently they lead to discomfort, pain, doubt, anxiety and frustration.
The main emphasis of the Alexander work applied to an instrument will be learning about the pupil's individual response to the stimulus of music and the instrument.During the sessions, a combination of observation, awareness and inhibition will be worked with in order to help the student identify their habit, recognize the moment they start functioning according to their habitual way, and give them an experience of doing things without the usual habit. By not re-inforcing the habits, the muscular-skeletal system, the nervous system and the thought processes start to function together in a freer, easier and more effective and coordinated way, instead of building the conflict and tension between these systems.
In the first session the student will play either a short piece, a scale, or a few notes, depending on the severity of the tension/injury.In this session, it will be observed how the student “uses” themselves at the instrument, both mentally and physically, which starts to explain to the student what they are doing to themselves which could be contributing to the problem. This echoes Alexander's own self-exploration, as described in his book “Use of the Self”, where he starts to ask the all-important question:“What is it that I am doing to myself that is causing this problem?”
Classic Alexander Technique Lessons
In these lessons, without the instrument, the psychophysical habits and tendencies that appeared when playing the instrument will be explored in greater depth. In these lessons the student becomes more aware of general habits of use and being, that are then magnified and exaggerated when playing an instrument. Simple everyday activities will be applied, such as standing, walking, moving, not to teach the student how to do these “properly”, but to teach the student what “self-method”’ they are employing in themselves in order to do any of these things.
This “self-method”, usually based on faulty perceptions, automatic responses, familiarity and habits, will then be challenged and explored. Similarities are frequently noted when playing the instrument.
Alexander Applied to Playing Instruments
Here is the chance to explore deep-rooted habits and reactions to instruments, often based on fears and anxiety. Initially the level of stimulus with the instrument will be reduced to a level where the nervous and muscular systems of the student are not overly activated, ie instead of playing a full concerto, the student will be asked to play a few notes. After that, this work progresses at a pace where the student can cope with the next level of stimulus without the habitual reactions taking over.
By reducing the level of stimulus with the instrument in this way, the student has the opportunity to recognize what their reactions are to it, what their anxieties are, and how the nervous and muscular systems are affected. Gradually, as each new level of stimulus is introduced to the student, they have started to develop the tools in themselves to not enter their usual pathways and reactions, and to learn to inhibit these familiar responses.
This work affects many levels of functioning in a musician, including tension in the muscular system, over-active nervous system, physical coordination, mental clarity and focus, and general confidence building. As the musicians themselves become freer, the music begins to flow, touching both musician and listener at a much deeper level
Free Time
In working intensively with Alexander and music, free time is essential, to reflect, to escape, to forget the old messages, and to try things out for oneself.
Whilst much of the hard work will be done in the lessons, the free time in between sessions enables students to reflect on why they have developed certain perceptions about themselves, and what they think they need to do with themselves in order to achieve what they are trying to do.
It enables students to understand why they have ended up at a certain point, and help them both to question the sense of carrying on like this, and give them the tools and the confidence to try a different approach.
Enjoy La Alpujarra
Free time at AMS also offers the opportunity to enjoy the rural tranquility of La Alpujarra. For those feeling more active, there are fantastic mountain and riverside walks, horse-riding, and swimming in the summer. Local bars, restaurants and village squares provide ample fun and adventure with the local villagers and Spanish people.
Information and Booking a Personal Programme
To book a personal programme, of for more information, please contact Cat Jary:
Tel (0034) 958 857 481
Mob (0034) 600 056 159
email cat jary |
