following performing arts medicine courses at Hochschulen Luzern und Karlsruhe
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Studentin (Violine): Feedback zum Kurs "Practice smarter - not harder" (This mail was addressed to the Dean) I wanted to inform you about a great class that I took this past semester. It was called Practise Smarter Not Harder taught by Mrs. Dagmar Wolff.
I am writing because I benefited so invaluably from what I learned in this course and I really believe it helped me get my first job in one of the best orchestras in the world - Gewandhaus Orchester. What is taught in this class is incredibly helpful and most of all, it helps each individual student find their own way which I think is the most important thing for music students at this stage in their development.
More specifically, we learned about how to practise which is the number one thing I believe most students struggle with and not knowing how to practise prevents musicians from improving at a fast rate and reaching their full potential. We learned physiological exercises, efficient practise techniques and psychological techniques and I know from talking to others in the class that every single one of us benefited in some way, shape or form from the class. At the end of the semester, all students gave feedback in which all expressed they would like to have had more class time and this is the reason I am writing to you. From first hand experience I can tell you that this class was one of the most invaluable I've ever had and I made and felt huge steps in my development as a violinist and musician.
It would be great to offer future students more hours of this class and allot a larger period of time for the course during the semester. I hope that this can be taken into serious consideration as I think the students and HSLU would benefit tremendously from it.
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Studentin (Bratsche) im 1. Semester nach dem Kurs "Gesunde Übetechniken"
"The course has altered my approach towards the viola completely. For me, it was my first term at College, and I am happy to have had the chance to get to know this new approach to practicing right at the beginning of my studies. I learnt in this class, that I do not only play on my viola, but it belongs to me. I feel more and more "at home" while playing. Already, my warm-up scheme is much more effective. Before I started college, I jump-startet my playing with a difficult technique program - after which I was tensed up, already. Now I start with a short warm-up without instrument which we developed in class. Thus, I start playing my instrument all warmed-up and relaxed, and I increase difficulty at the instrument at a slow pace. This way I most often manage to play each exercise in a satisfying manner - while warming up! - and staying relaxed enough that I can proceed to my repertoire without any trouble. As for the timing/planning of practice I can see clear improvements. At the start of the term, I got used to practicing three times a day. At first, I only played for 45 minutes, each, because I stiffened up and my concentration went down. But soon, I was able to increase practice duration. Now I am able to practice for two hours without any problems. For me, relaxation while practicing has become very important. Depending on my fitness any given day, I insert 2-to3-minute breaks more or less often during a practice session. During those breaks, I will carry out relaxation exercises for those body parts that are under a certain amount of tension, and I take care to re-hydrate. After such breaks, passages that unexpectedly did not work before, will suddenly work much better and I progress faster. Especially important to me is my new basic approach that I learned: The goal of practicing is first and foremost to FEEL WELL, what in turn leads to the development of a good technique. It was staggering for me, that I could find enjoyment in formerly "boring" technical exercises. Before I started college, technique for me was an unavoidable evil though which I had to put myself - and accordingly, I was unmotivated when playing those exercises. This is also related with the new level of relaxation that I have developed during the last semester. This clearly and very positively affects technique, but also the soundbearing capacity of my notes. In addition, since the beginning of the term I have almost never tensed up, that I had to stop playing. This happened almost weekly during the time before. Additionally, I expanded my capacity to analyze mistakes. I learned that external factors influence the effectiveness of my practice to a large extent. A shoulder rest, that is minimally ofset can cause my left arm to tense up or that too little liquid intake can bring your concentration down to zero. I like the experience of being able to retrieve a large amount of things that I practiced at home during lessons. It is quite obvious to me, that the new things I am able to do don't merely depend on chance once in a while, but lots of things become automatized - and more quickly than I would have expected. " |
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Student (flute): Semester Feedback "Practicing efficiently and healthy" Things which became important to me:
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Studentin (Klavier): Semesterrückblick "Üben mit Köpfchen" "Eindrücke und Lernerfahrungen dieses Semesters Vor dem Semester: Zum Teil wenig Spaß am Üben, Rückenschmerzen, Finger sind nicht gut kontrollierbar; Empfand Üben als Stress und Belastung, kein Einspielen, quälte mich durch die von mir vorgegebene Übezeit, gönnte mir auch bei Unkonzentriertheit keine Pause, da ich ja sonst länger Üben muss (völliger Schwachsinn!); saß in schlechter Haltung, zum Teil mit überkreuzten Beinen am Klavier Jetzt: Kenne Übungen für die Aktivierung von Händen, Schultern etc. vor dem Üben; spiele mich ein, gehe anders auf das Instrument zu, andere Beziehung zum Klavier, sehe das Instrument nicht als Gegner sondern Partner, bin lockerer, kenne ein bisschen den anatomischen Bewegungsablauf der Hand beim Spielen, weiß welche Haltung schädlich bzw. gut für mich ist und warum, kann eher einschätzen, was in meinem Körper vor sich geht, mache effiziente Pausen, freue mich auf das Üben! In diesem Semester habe ich vor allem gelernt, gut auf mich zu achten. Auf meine Haltung, meine Konzentration, Vorbereitung, Schmerzen, Erschöpfung… Ich gehe jetzt besser und behutsamer mit mir um, rede zum Teil sogar mit meinen Fingern, um Ihnen Bewegungsabläufe verständlich zu machen. Mir ist aufgefallen, dass ich immer wieder meine Haltung überprüfe, bzw. reflektiere und verbesser. Z. B. in der Vorlesung, in der Bahn etc. Auch die Haltung anderer Leute sehe ich jetzt viel bewusster. Wenn mir etwas wehtut, denke ich jetzt ganz genau nach und versuche herauszufinden, woher es kommt. Ich halte oft kurz inne und frage meinen Körper, ob gerade alles ok ist und reagiere entsprechend. Seitdem fühle ich mich deutlich weniger gestresst und ausgelaugt." |
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Studentin (Bratsche): Feedback zum Kurs "Anatomie für Musiker"
"Im Vordergrund während dieser Arbeit stand für mich, meinen Körper und auch meinen Geist während des Spiels und des Übens bewusst wahrzunehmen und zu lernen, diese Vorgänge steuern zu können. Dabei war es erstaunlich, wie wenig man dafür tun musste, um schon große Erfolge zu erzielen. Im meinem persönlichen Bereich zählen dazu: - die bewusste Wahrnehmung meines Körpers während des Spiels (Stand, Balance, "Fitness"); die genaue "Mechanik" meiner Finger; Schmerzen zu lokalisieren, zu analysieren und zu lösen; den Zusammenhang zwischen körperlichem und geistigen Üben und deren Wechselwirkung => Qualität statt Quantität; sehr detailliert zu üben; sich Pausen nach zwar kurzen, aber sehr konzentrierten Übe-Einheiten zu gönnen; Spaß beim Üben; auch während des Übens eine musikalische Ausdrucksebene zu erreichen; auf die Atmung zu achten; sich auf dem Instrument in jeder Lage und Position wohl zu fühlen; den ganzen Körper grundsätzlich "locker" zu lassen; Ich bin sehr froh, diese Erfahrungen schon im ersten Semester gesammelt zu haben, weil ich nun das Gefühl habe, eine gute Grundlage für mein zukünftiges Üben, den Umgang/die Wahrnehmung mit meinem Körper gestärkt habe und somit keine Zeit in Zukunft für unnütze Dinge zu verschwenden. Meiner Meinung nach sollte jeder Studienanfänger diese Erfahrungen machen, denn so kann man verhindern, dass Studenten sich zum Teil jahrelang in falsche, "zeitfressesrische" und mitunter auch musikalisch abträgliche Gewohnheiten flüchten." |
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Feedback von Studierenden der Internationalen Klavier Akademie Freiburg 2013
"Since your class, I am practicing more effectively - I am actually thinking of what I want to do and I don't practice half-aware any more. This is a dramatic change already."
"I am always using your warm-up exercises, and they really work! One does not need to play a lot longer to actually be at my best."
"I think it was nice and very clear. I think it is perfect for giving an "input" to what Musicians' Physio is."
"I didn't "miss" anything, it was very interesting! What I am always interested in are scans of brain activity while playing/practicing. Those pictures in colors... Vielen Dank Dagmar!!!"
"Great course! Very interesting topic!"
For me, the most important aspect of the class was:
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Studentin (Master Violine) im Kurs "Mentales Training" |