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 InjuryTendonitis (Tenosynovitis)

Inflammation Pain

IceRestPhysician 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 toneOvertones & 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 carriersNo muscle acts without receiving a

signalClear signal = clear performanceConflicting signals = muscle tensionMusical 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 NerveUlnar side of arm

5th finger side of hand and palm

Elbow exposure

Median NerveMiddle of arm

Middle of hand

Carpal tunnel

Carpal Tunnel

Brain

Conscious programmingAutomatic ResponsesIntention activates signalLearning formulates intentionLearning determines Technique

Brain Areas

Frontallobe

Temporallobe

Motor Strip

Parietallobe

Occipitallobe

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!