Be Well Make Music Thomas Mastroianni
72% ASOL studies Catholic University incoming Freshmen and Sophomores Study CUA Wellness Courses (“the 28% study”) NIH Research (Hunter Fry)
Overuse /Repetitive Strain Injury Tendonitis (Tenosynovitis) Inflammation Pain Ice Rest Physician Directed Medication Alter Technique Remove Strain
Technique and The Body Wellness ********* Prevention Efficiency ******** Avoid Excess Diet and Exercise Whole Body wellness
What is Technique? Use of the instrument (voice) to make sounds that express musical content. Use of the body for efficient music making. Create beauty with ease !
Understand (love) the Instrument Mechanics / Nature Beauty of tone Noise vs. musical tone Overtones & tone quality
Understand the Body Bones & body position Muscles Alignment Nerves Brain
Bones and Position Radius and Ulna Rotation Wrist Bones Hand Bones Finger Bones
Posture Head tilt / Larynx / shoulder muscles Back / upper arm / lungs Legs / hip / upper body posture
How Do Muscles Work? Signal from the Brain Contraction Pull on Tendons Connection of Tendons to Bones
Voice
Health Encyclopedia on the web
Muscles Tendons Finger muscles in the arm Flexors / Extensors Muscles in the hand Rotators Finger independence vs. interdependence
Alignment Bones align to work efficiently Muscles pull only in a straight line To create a curve, more than one muscle must work
Nerves Signal carriers No muscle acts without receiving a signal Clear signal = clear performance Conflicting signals = muscle tension Musical Understanding
Nerve Routes Signal Sending Brain to Voice, Fingers, Feet, etc. / and back to Brain Two Way Street – Efferent / Afferent Work order / Pain and feedback Signal Sending Brain to Voice, Fingers, Feet, etc. / and back to Brain Two Way Street – Efferent / Afferent Work order / Pain and feedback
Radial Nerve Radius side of arm Thumb side of hand Numbness or weakness
Ulnar Nerve Ulnar side of arm 5 th finger side of hand and palm Elbow exposure
Median Nerve Middle of arm Middle of hand Carpal tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Brain Conscious programming Automatic Responses Intention activates signal Learning formulates intention Learning determines Technique
Brain Areas Frontal lobe Temporal lobe Motor Strip Parietal lobe Occipital lobe Cerebrum
Signal relay and screening Cerebellum - stored patterned responses, screening Brain stem - signal relay and screening
Your technique is only as good as your learning !
After Injury Get Professional Help Use diagnosis as a platform for change Reevaluate technique Make changes (the same old paths lead to the same old destinations) Medical, musical and behavioral prescriptions must be coordinated
Be Well, Make Music Beauty and Pain are incompatible ! Pain is useful. It indicates what we must avoid. But “No pain, no gain” = no brain ! Music is Therapeutic The creation of beauty is one of the most noble human vocations. It is a joy!