Résumés
Abstract
Studies have shown that musicians feel their posture has improved after studying the Alexander Technique (at). However, no study has examined if participants’ perceptions agree with their quantitatively measured posture. This study explored the relationship between pianists’ perceptions of their posture along with their application of the Technique and the measurements taken of their spinal posture. Fifteen pianists completed questionnaires about how they perceived their posture and how they applied at principles while playing. Their responses were compared with their own postural data collected during a previous study to determine if there were commonalities between pianists’ perceptions and their postural changes. Results showed a wide range of responses as to how pianists applied the Technique while playing. Findings also showed that there was not always a clear relationship between participants’ perceptions and their postural data. In conclusion, pianists’ perceptions do not always agree with direct measures of posture.
Keywords:
- Alexander Technique,
- perception,
- pianists,
- posture,
- postural changes
Résumé
Des études ont montré que les musiciens sentent que leur posture s’est améliorée après avoir étudié la technique Alexander (at). Cependant, aucune étude n’a examiné si les perceptions des participants concordaient avec leur posture mesurée quantitativement. Cette étude a exploré la relation entre les perceptions des pianistes de leur posture ainsi que leur application de la Technique et les mesures prises de leur posture vertébrale. Quinze pianistes ont rempli des questionnaires concernant la façon dont ils percevaient leur posture et la manière dont ils appliquaient les principes de l’at tout en jouant. Leurs réponses ont été comparées à leurs propres données posturales recueillies lors d’une étude précédente pour déterminer s’il y avait des points communs entre les perceptions des pianistes et leurs changements posturaux. Les résultats ont montré un large éventail de réponses concernant la manière dont les pianistes appliquaient la Technique tout en jouant. Les résultats ont également montré qu’il n’y avait pas toujours une relation claire entre les perceptions des participants et leurs données posturales. En conclusion, les perceptions des pianistes ne concordent pas toujours avec les mesures directes de la posture.
Mots-clés :
- technique Alexander,
- changements posturaux,
- perception,
- pianistes,
- posture
Parties annexes
Bibliography
- Alexander, Frederick Matthias (1946), The Universal Constant in Living, London, Chaterson Ltd.
- Alexander, Frederick Matthias (2001), The Use of the Self, London, Orion Books Ltd.
- Balogh, Istvan, et al. (2004), “Self-assessed and Directly Measured Occupational Physical Activities. Influence of Musculoskeletal Complaints, Age and Gender,” Applied Ergonomics, vol. 35, no 1, pp. 49–56, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2003.06.001.
- Barlow, Wilfred (1990), The Alexander Technique. How to Use Your Body Without Stress, Rochester, Healing Arts Press.
- Barlow, Wilfred (2005), “Physical Education Research,” in Wilfred Barlow (ed.), More Talk of Alexander. Aspects of the Alexander Technique, London, Mouritz, pp. 79–104.
- Barriera-Viruet, Heriberto, et al. (2006), “Questionnaires vs Observational and Direct Measurements. A Systematic Review,” Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, vol. 7, no 3, pp. 261–284, https://doi.org/10.1080/14639220500090661.
- Ben-Or, Nelly (1987), The Alexander Technique in the Preparation and Performance of Music, Annual F. M. Alexander memorial lecture given to the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, London, November.
- Cacciatore, Timothy W., et al. (2011a), “Increased Dynamic Regulation of Postural Tone Through Alexander Technique Training,” HumanMovement Science, vol. 30, no 1, pp.74–89, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2010.10.002.
- Cacciatore, Timothy W., et al. (2011b), “Prolonged Weight-shift and Altered Spinal Coordination During Sit-to-stand in Practitioners of the Alexander Technique,” Gait &Posture, vol. 34, no 4, pp. 496–501, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.06.026.
- Cacciatore, Timothy W., Fay B. Horak, and Sharon M. Henry (2005), “Improvement in Automatic Postural Coordination Following Alexander Technique Lessons in a Person With Low Back Pain,” PhysicalTherapy, vol. 85, no 6, pp. 565–578, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/85.6.565.
- Cohen, Rajal G., et al. (2015), “Lighten Up. Specific Postural Instructions Affect Axial Rigidity and Step Initiation in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease,” Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, vol. 29, no 9, pp. 878–888, https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968315570323.
- Conable, Barbara, and William Conable ([1991]1995), How to Learn the Alexander Technique. A Manual for Students, Portland, Andover Press.
- Davies, Janet (2020a), “Alexander Technique Classes for Tertiary Music Students. Student and Teacher Evaluations of Pre- and Post-test Audiovisual Recordings,” International Journal of Music Education, pp. 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761419880007.
- Davies, Janet (2020b), “Alexander Technique Classes Improve Pain and Performance Factors in Tertiary Music Students,” Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, vol. 24, no 1, pp. 1–7, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.04.006.
- Englehart, Robert James (1989), An Electromyographic Study of Preparatory Set in Singing as Influenced by the Alexander Technique, Ph.D. diss., Ohio State University.
- Gelb, Michael J. ([1981]2004), Body Learning. An Introduction to the Alexander Technique, London, Aurum Press Limited.
- Gibbs, Vivien, and Pat Young (2011), “A Study of the Experiences of Participants Following Attendance at a Workshop on Methods to Prevent or Reduce Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Amongst Sonographers,” Radiology, vol. 17, no 3, pp. 223–229, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2011.02.003.
- Gross, Monika, et al. (2019), “Poised for Parkinson’s. Alexander Technique Course Improves Balance, Mobility and Posture for People with pd,” Archives ofPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 100, no 12, p. e193, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2019.10.095.
- Gross, Monika, et al. (2020), “Poised for Parkinson’s. Retention of Benefits from Alexander Technique Group Course for People Living with Parkinson’s Disease,” Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 101, no 12, p. e149, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2020.10.072.
- Jones, Frank Pierce (1997), Freedom to Change. The Development and Science of the Alexander Technique, London, Mouritz.
- Kaplan, Iris (1994), The Experience of Pianists Who Have Studied the Alexander Technique. Six Case Studies, Ph.D. diss., New York University.
- Kim, Soo-Yeon, and Soon Gi Baek (2014), “The Effect of Alexander Technique Training Program. A Qualitative Study of Ordinary Behavior Application,” Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, vol. 10, no 6, pp. 357–361, https://doi.org/10.12965/jer.140177.
- Klein, Sabine D., Claudine Bayard, and Ursula Wolf (2014), “The Alexander Technique and Musicians. A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials,” bmc Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 14, no 1, pp. 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-414.
- Kleinman, Judith, and Peter Buckoke (2013), The Alexander Technique for Musicians, London, Bloomsbury Methuen Drama.
- Kvammen, Anne Cecilie Røsjø (2013), The Alexander Technique and the Performing Musician, Master’s thesis, University of Oslo, www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/38201/A-C-R--Kvammen-_-Master.pdf, accessed 26 October 2022.
- Little, Paul, et al. (2008), “Randomised Controlled Trial of Alexander Technique Lessons, Exercise, and Massage (ateam) for Chronic and Recurrent Back Pain,” bmj, vol. 337, no a884, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a884.
- Loo, Fung Ying, et al. (2015), “Tension Release in Piano Playing. Teaching Alexander Technique to Undergraduate Piano Majors,” Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 174, pp. 2413–2417, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.910.
- MacPherson, Hugh, et al. (2015), “Alexander Technique Lessons or Acupuncture Sessions for Persons With Chronic Neck Pain. A Randomized Trial,” Annals of Internal Medicine, vol. 163, no 9, pp. 653–662, https://doi.org/10.7326/M15-0667.
- Maisel, Edward (1990), The Alexander Technique. The Essential Writings of F. Matthias Alexander, London, Thames and Hudson.
- Mozeiko, Kristin Jane (2011), The Effects of Participation in the Alexander Technique on Female Violinists and Violists. A Mixed-methods Study, Ph.D. diss., Boston University.
- Reddy, Pramod, et al. (2010), “The Impact of the Alexander Technique in Improving Posture During Minimally Invasive Surgery,” The Journal of Urology, vol. 184, no 4, p. e519.
- Reddy, Pramod P., et al. (2011), “The Impact of the Alexander Technique on Improving Posture and Surgical Ergonomics During Minimally Invasive Surgery. Pilot Study,” The Journal of Urology, vol. 186, no 4S, pp. 1658–1662, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2011.04.013.
- Rosenthal, Eleanor (1989), “The Alexander Technique. What Is It and How It Works,” The American Music Teacher, vol. 39, no 2, pp. 24–27, 57.
- Sandelowski, Margarete (2000), “Whatever Happened to Qualitative Description?,” Research in Nursing & Health, vol. 23, pp. 334–340, https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-240X(200008)23:4<334::AID-NUR9>3.0.CO;2-G.
- Sandelowski, Margerete (2010), “What’s in a Name? Qualitative Description Revisited,” Research in Nursing and Health, vol. 33, pp. 77–84, https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.20362.
- Santiago, Patricia Furst (2004), An Exploration of the Potential Contributions of the Alexander Technique to Piano Pedagogy, Ph.D. diss., University College London, https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10019250/, accessed 26 Octobre 2022.
- Spielholz, Peregrin, et al. (2001), “Comparison of Self-report, Video Observation and Direct Measurement Methods for Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorder Physical Risk Factors,” Ergonomics, vol. 44, no 6, pp. 588–613, https://doi.org/10.1080/00140130110038035.
- Stallibrass, Chloe, Christine Frank, and Karen Wentworth (2005), “Retention of Skills Learnt in Alexander Technique Lessons. 28 People With Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease,” Journal of Bodywork and MovementTherapies, vol. 9, no 2, pp. 150–157, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2004.06.004.
- Tarr, Jenn (2008), “Habit and Conscious Control. Ethnography and Embodiment in the Alexander Technique,” Ethnography, vol. 9, no 4, pp. 477–497, https://doi.org/10.1177/1466138108096988.
- Valentine, Elizabeth R., et al. (1995), “The Effect of Lessons in the Alexander Technique on Music Performance in High and Low Stress Situations,” Psychology of Music, vol. 23, no 2, pp. 129–141, https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735695232002.
- Wolf, Rachelle C., et al. (2017), “Effect of the Alexander Technique on Muscle Activation, Movement Kinematics, and Performance Quality in Collegiate Violinists and Violists. A Pilot Feasibility Study,” Medical Problems of Performing Artists, vol. 32, no 2, pp. 78–84, https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2017.2014.
- Wong, Grace K., et al. (2022a), “The Effects of the Alexander Technique on Pianists’ Postures During Performance,” Manuscript submitted for publication.
- Wong, Grace K., et al. (2022b), “The Influence of the Alexander Technique on Spinal Angles,” Manuscript submitted for publication.
- Zare, Mohsen, et al. (2017), “Comparison of Three Methods for Evaluation of Work Postures in a Truck Assembly Plant,” Ergonomics, vol. 60, no 11, pp. 1551–1563, https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2017.1314023.