How to Surrender Tension

Oo-Wee, just finished a very exhilarating practice session. The kind of session that gives back more energy than was put in.

And I put in a lot today.

What I explored very deeply in the hour was just what the title of this email suggests; how to SURRENDER tension.

Many violinists experience some form of tension or muscle stiffness whilst playing. Most, if not all of the tension we arises while we play is based on misconceptions we acquired very early and now are deeply rooted in the subconscious. That is to say, they are habitual.

So, how to you uproot the little buggers.

First of all you must pay very close attention. You must be willing to seek out the very instruction the brain is sending the muscle(s) to contract.

From that point you must first Consciously send a new message to the muscle – stay relaxed – while at the same time allowing the muscles you DO need activated to do their job.

I have Focal Dystonia. For those of you who know what this is you know it is a dysfunction that is WAY beyond your garden-variety stiffness. Many fine musicians have had their careers ended by it.

I will not.

In fact, I believe the techniques I demonstrate at the beginning of both the Kreutzer and Paganini courses are an integral part of my recovery process.

If they work for dystonia they most certainly can help you with eliminating your tension issues.

The counting technique puts your focus on the NOW – your attention is placed on what is right before you. The breathing technique places the body in a state conducive to relaxation. And the act of creative visualization sends the new, corrected message to the muscles.

What the courses also provide is information to better inform your visualizations. This is very worthwhile stuff.

I wish I had the time to go more deeply into how tension becomes reflexive and self-limiting. If you’re interested, there is a book entitled, ‘The Power of Infinite Love and Gratitude’, by Dr. Darren R. Weissman, that you might find extremely enlightening.

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. Am just getting restocked on ‘Kreutzer for Violin Mastery’ today. Makes for a great time to get this great tension banishing tool for the serious violinist.