Mind & Body

We are dedicated to providing our students with a healthy and safe environment and with the education to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We do this through ongoing online education and wellness workshops.

Find more information about these important health topics:

Offered online in Fall 2020:

Alexander Technique Classes

Fall 2020 Online Classes: Open to all current NEC Conservatory students!

Thursday Mornings, Registration required

Fall Session III: Alexander Technique: Which way am I going? Exploring Direction

4 weeks* , Thursdays, 9:00am-10:15am EST

Classes meet on November 19, December 3, December 10, December 17

Register for Session III here.

You will need your NEC credentials to register.

Classes limited to the first 25 students to enroll. Participants are asked to attend class with your instrument and video on for full participation.

You will receive the Zoom link to join class Wednesday morning before the first class begins. The link will be used to access all four classes for each session. Check your NEC email for the link once you registration.

(Past Classes)

Fall Session I: Alexander Technique: The Four Pillars

4 weeks, Thursdays, 8:30am-9:45am EST

Classes meet on: September 17, September 24, October 1, October 8

Registration for Session I is closed.

Fall Session II: Alexander Technique: Three Spheres and Your Spine

4 weeks* Thursdays, 9:00am-10:15am EST

Classes meet on: October 22, October 29, November 5, November 12

Class Descriptions

Fall Session I: Four Pillars

We will explore four guiding principles to learning and practicing the Alexander Technique and how to apply these principles to our musical craft and daily lives. Bring instruments, a writing utensil and a mat for each class. This is an interactive class; plan to participate with videos on in class! For newcomers and students who have had experience with Alexander Technique (AT) before. Limited to 25 participants.

Session II: Your Design: Three Spheres and Your Spine

We will explore the relationship of your head, tail, ribs and what connects them all: your spine. The relationship of your core affects your breathing, freedom, tone and resonance. Application with your instrument and daily activities will be explored each class. Bring instruments, a writing utensil and a mat for each class. This is an interactive class; plan to participate with videos on in class! For newcomers and students who have had experience with Alexander Technique (AT) before. Limited to 25 participants.

*Registration link for Session II will be posted one week prior to the first class.

Session III: Alexander Technique: Which way am I going? Exploring Direction

This session will be exploring direction in ourselves, music and lives. Direction is a fundamental principle in the Alexander Technique (AT) and important in our daily lives for meaning and purpose. F.M. Alexander said “when we get out of the way, the right thing does itself.” We will be exploring this principle using many directions!

Bring instruments, a writing utensil and a mat for each class. This is an interactive class; plan to participate with videos on in class! For newcomers and students who have had experience with Alexander Technique (AT) before. Limited to 25 participants. Please sign up if you are able to attend classes and participate fully with your instrument and video on.

*Registration link for Session III will be posted one week prior to the first class.

About Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique (AT) focuses on building awareness and integrating tools that assist in freeing ourselves from tension and physical and mental habits that limit our freedom and potential, allowing us to mobilize ourselves in a new way. Contemporary AT is a dynamic and exploratory approach that focuses on the student engaging and learning in an interactive and non-judgmental space.

Please bring any questions or issues you are having with tension or pain with your instrument to the class. If you do not have tension or pain issues, the class will give you more tools to enhance performance and freedom in your playing. These classes will be interactive. Have your instrument, writing tools and a towel or mat ready in case we do floor work.

*Class time for Sessions II and III subject to change.

Tai Chi Classes

Fall '20 Dates:

7 weeks of instruction; 2 days per week

Mondays, 9:30 am – 10:30 am – Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, and 16

Fridays, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Oct 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov 6, 13, and 20

50 students maximum

Tai Chi Paradigm for Musicians: Concepts in Tai Chi Paradigm’s Training methods. We will initially Isolate the sections of the body and work them to build body intelligence. Upper (arms neck and chest), Middle (torso), Lower (hips and legs) Concepts: Weight shifting and rooting: stabilizing the lower body when in a standing posture. Gravity and Leverage: Alignment of tendons and ligaments and the manipulation of skeletal structure. Structure and bio - mechanics to replace strength: principles of releasing tension in muscles and relaxing. Flow- fluidity in motion by learning and understanding that all movements can be done naturally, the way our joints were designed move. Ultimately, we achieve balance in motion. Right and left, upper and lower coordination. Then we will build integration and the relationships of the these sections which we term the unification of components. The Tai Chi Paradigm as a form will be used as it supports and enriches the practice of these concepts.