Seminar for Musicians with Medical Concerns	March 21, 2001

Seminar Participants and Faculty The Swiss Association for Music Medicine (SMM) hosted a special seminar from October 5-8, 2000, in the Hindemith Music Center of Blonay, Switzerland. SMM president Pia Bucher herself is an international prize winning trombone player, and for nearly two decades was a member of the Slokar Trombone Quartet. She has held solo trombone positions in several symphony orchestras, taught in academies in Germany and Switzerland, recorded CDs, and lent brilliance to European stages as a soloist. Pia Bucher is now occupied in her second career as a trained Music Kinesiology practitioner. She presents seminars and workshops for music students and musicians in Europe and USA on Breathing Technique, Body Teaching, and Stress and Stage Fright. In her private practice she offers individual counseling on Stress Release and Creativity. Kinesiology comes from the greek word kinesis (movement). It combines elements from traditional Chinese medicine and the latest neurological research on brain functions. Pia Bucher says: "Kinesiology is a holistic method to harmonize our energy and to activate our self-healing powers. Music Kinesiology is a specialized field of Applied Kinesiology, applied to overcome stress in our music profession. In Music Kinesiology we work with emotions, sounds, color and expression. The body energy is put into movement through breathing and body exercises, touch and massage of special points, and charging of Meridians." Music Kinesiology seeks to change unhealthy patterns of suppressing frustrating events. The clients are guided to discover their own innate well of positive and creative energy, which through Music Kinesiology is channeled to build up their strength and enhance their life quality. Through this process the clients may start to experience music in a new way. In auditions and performances musicians are constantly challenged to stretch the limits of their abilities. Brass musicians who suddenly experience breathing problems or dental / facial problems affecting the embouchure may become anxious and vulnerable to stress-related conditions accompanied by physical pain, sleeping disturbances, and feelings of inadequacy. Pia Bucher Pia Bucher founded the Swiss Association for Music Medicine in 1997 along with a team of medical doctors. They have put together a team of professional health workers with extensive knowledge of music and good interdisciplinary cooperation. An individual treatment program is then set up for each person. The chance for full recovery is best if the person in need seeks professional help at an early stage. The conference was attended by musicians with medical concerns affecting their performance on violin, piano, guitar, flute, trombone, clarinet, voice etc. The lectures and workshops dealt with the following topics: Posture and movement. Anatomy and Physiology. Dental Problems - Embouchure. Stress Release for Musicians. Individual Analysis of Posture etc. Psychological Problems. Lecturers at the seminar were: Dr. Joachim E. Lahme, Lindau - Dentistry. Dr. Albrecht. C. Lahme, Munich - Orthopedics. Pia Bucher, Farnern - Kinesiology. Irene Spirgi-Gantert, Luzern - Physiotherapy FBL. Next year's special seminar, Prevention and Health in the Music Profession, will be presented July 25-28, 2001 in the Hindemith Center, Blonay, Switzerland. Dr. Susanne Elsensohn, Zürich, will join the staff and contribute in the field of psychology. For information contact: Info@musik-medizin.ch Source: Vera Hørven, ITG European Correspondent

What's New | News & Events | Resources | Join ITG Contact ITG | About  ITG | How To Use This Site | Site Search © Copyright 1999-2001 - International Trumpet Guild™ - all rights reserved