What Didn't Help:
Rest
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Ice/heat
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Wrist braces
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Pain medication
What Helped:
When I was in graduate school,
I was forced to quit the flute...
I know, I know - that seems counterproductive. And I assure you, it was not what I had planned for my first four months of my master's in music.
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However, I was suffering from numbness, aching and shooting pains, and tingling throughout both of my arms, and this pain was triggered the minute I picked up the flute. Yikes!
​I was advised to take time off my instrument until the pain subsided and I was healed.
I received some common advice that musicians are given in this situation, but guess what??
A lot of this well-meaning advice did not help me!
Body Mapping
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&​
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Movement
Don't get me wrong...
Some of those strategies did help me in the short-term: pain medication, ice/heat, and rest all alleviated my symptoms. But did they actually stop the pain? Did they get to the root of the problem?
NOPE!
Both my physical therapist and massage therapist agreed that taking time off my instrument wasn't serving me, but what would solve the root of the issue and prevent this from happening again was...
movement.
So I turned to Body Mapping!
Wait, so what's Body Mapping?
Let's start with the basics...
Key Terms...
Body Maps
Neuroscience research has proven that we all have body maps in our brains.
These maps tell us about our body's size, structure, and function.
We have maps that tell us how to move our arms, our legs, our eyelids... you name it!
Body Mapping
Body Mapping is a somatic method created by Barbara and William Conable in the 1990s.
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This method was designed for musicians to learn more about the movement their bodies perform to make music, and the body maps that govern that movement.​​
For Musicians
Body Mapping has been shown to help prevent injury and enhance musical performance.
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Because all musicians move when they make music, developing as accurate a body map as possible to perform this movement is ESSENTIAL for easy and free music-making.
Body Mapping saved my career and freed me from pain...
By correcting the misunderstandings I had of my own body in movement, I was able to develop a more accurate body map. I was able to find the source of my injury - tension in my neck if you can believe it!
I re-trained my body to move in ways that were freer, easier, and pain-free.​
And now, I help other musicians find freedom, too!
The Course
As a Licensed Body Mapping Educator, I am certified to teach the official What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body course endorsed by the Association for Body Mapping Education. This six-hour course presents the foundation of Body Mapping and functional anatomy for all musicians. This course is perfect for individuals new to Body Mapping or musician organizations looking to enhance their wellness and artistry.
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Online course coming Fall 2025. Join my waitlist to be notified when registration opens.
Workshops
I offer hour-long workshops and presentations on Body Mapping topics to musicians of various abilities and instrument types. Topics include balance, breathing, developing movement awareness, and more! These sessions are fantastic for musicians and music educators seeking information on specific anatomy and how it can impact music-making.
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Workshops are often hosted by third-parties and occasionally online. Contact me to chat about what is best for you and/or your organization.
1-1 Lessons
One-on-one individual lessons are an excellent opportunity for musicians to gain greater insight into any "mismappings" or misunderstandings they might currently hold regarding their own bodies in movement. Individual lessons can be held online or in-person. I offer a four-lesson package to ensure my clients receive the time they deserve to discover their own body maps and unlock their artistry.
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Book a free online 20-minute consultation below to chat about your Body Mapping interests and questions.