How Muscles Learn: Teaching the Violin with the Body in Mind

by Susan Kempter

How Muscles Learn provides information useful in helping teachers find productive techniques in teaching based on how muscles learn movement patterns. Muscles and bodies can and should be thoroughly trained before concentrating exclusively on musical outcomes. Contents include: the importance of good posture, range of motion and movement, muscles have memory: how movement patterns are acquired, and proactive interference: its issues and effects. Each chapter includes helpful photographs illustrating techniques, helpful hints, exercises to practice the principles in each section, and musical examples.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise, specific instruction on how to help build a healthy violin set-up. Strongest point is it's direction on how to adapt the essential fundamentals of technique to differently shaped bodies (long/short pinkies, broad/narrow shoulders, etc.) The photos of students in various postures and positions are enhanced with arrows illustrating axis and angle. The exercises provided for your students are good, but what's better are the assignments at the end of each chapter for the teacher. This is definitely a book addressed to the teachers.

[Asl4u · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book is okay - it does more talking about why we need to think about muscles learning - than how to teach them, what to teach them when playing. But I got a few ideas - will make the book a gift to my Viola teacher.
I was also hoping to learn more about how and what - so I could apply the ideas to interpreting and my teaching... but guess I'll have to make my own associations/assumptions - and see where it goes.

[Beth]

Think I skimmed through this book whe I purchased it, really should read again soon...