Category: Teaching

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Lopez Island Ergonomics Workshop

 

Ergonomics Workshop Wednesday Evening Oct 9

kayke[email protected], 301 257-3081 or 301 257-2981.

Musicians are invited for a 6:30 dinner at our house, 127 Lopez Road #14 with parking at Vortex, followed by Flip’s famous workshop, that she leads at the annual Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, which she founded 45 years ago near Port Orchard.

Here’s what Flip says about her workshop:

“Ergonomics For Musicians: how to be your own coach for form. Musicians are small muscle athletes. Learn how your hands, arms & shoulders work and how to apply that to an instrument. For example, guitarists will learn how to play an F chord with no pain and no strain.

If playing an instrument catches your heart, you are likely to make specific gestures a million times in your life. It’s good to know how to avoid setting up repetitive motion injuries. Problem  habits can be hard to spot since resulting injuries can take years to show up. We’ll look at How To Practice – how your brain and body interact. You can have shorter practice sessions with better results. I’ll also show you a helpful strategy for neutralizing stage fright.”

Please forward this amazing opportunity to any other musicians who might be interested in coming.

Flip requests a $20 donation.  RSVP in advance [email protected] so we can plan dinner.  Bring your favorite beverage or appetizer, s.v.p.

Any questions? Email [email protected]  or 301 257-3081 or 301 257-2981.

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Teaching A Treble Makers Class

I’ve been recruited to teach a Spring Quarter Treble Makers class at Western Washington University in Bellingham WA, for faculty and staff under their Wellness Program. Even the educational and medical establishments have noticed there are health benefits to group singing! I’m excited about the possibilities. Great songs, clapping games, and traditional “American Play Parties” – American singing and motion games for all ages. These were entertainments from before radio, TV, and the internet. Everyone holds hands and sings, then we walk, spin, and swing together, cued by the words, while creating marvelous human origami, all punctuated by laughter. The songs often follow participants home for sharing with family and friends.

When we sing, we wake and and strengthen our bodies, improve posture, and make real human connections. All these support long-term health. When people move to music, endurance and strength are improved to a remarkable degree. I have spent a lifetime collecting, sharing, and teaching folk songs dating 1800 to the present, movement-and-motion games, and clapping games. All experience/ability levels welcome and encouraged.