Comments on: Meisner, Alexander and Open Source: Comparing techniques for interaction. http://www.openjournalmontreal.com/meisner-alexander-and-open-source-comparing-techniques-for-interaction/ Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:11:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: risa http://www.openjournalmontreal.com/meisner-alexander-and-open-source-comparing-techniques-for-interaction/comment-page-1/#comment-43 risa Sun, 21 Aug 2005 19:32:33 +0000 http://open.touchbasic.com/journal/?p=92#comment-43 Hello again Risa, I realize that I neglected to state how much I like the parallels you make between the Meisner approach and the A.T. I always appreciated his approach, a very non-doing approach, in which one builds self-awareness rather than constructing a shell of “technique”. There is so much that is simply there if we can get out of the way and stop doing, doing, doing. I have been having an exchange with a singer -- voice for Alexander -- which proceeds along the same lines – really examining all of the crap that has been added on unthinkingly, and seeing what happens when you try to breathe or make a vowel sound without all of the control and fear patterns getting in the way. A lesson with Marie-Annick is for me like having an Alexander lesson. And I seem to be able to help her out a little, so it’s fun. It is always interesting to see some clear basic ideas (I hesitate to call them “truths”, but it is tempting…) appear in diverse applications. Bye, Lawrence Hello again Risa,

I realize that I neglected to state how much I like the parallels you make between the Meisner approach and the A.T. I always appreciated his approach, a very non-doing approach, in which one builds self-awareness rather than constructing a shell of “technique”. There is so much that is simply there if we can get out of the way and stop doing, doing, doing. I have been having an exchange with a singer — voice for Alexander — which proceeds along the same lines – really examining all of the crap that has been added on unthinkingly, and seeing what happens when you try to breathe or make a vowel sound without all of the control and fear patterns getting in the way. A lesson with Marie-Annick is for me like having an Alexander lesson. And I seem to be able to help her out a little, so it’s fun. It is always interesting to see some clear basic ideas (I hesitate to call them “truths”, but it is tempting…) appear in diverse applications.

Bye,
Lawrence

]]> By: risa http://www.openjournalmontreal.com/meisner-alexander-and-open-source-comparing-techniques-for-interaction/comment-page-1/#comment-42 risa Sun, 21 Aug 2005 17:31:54 +0000 http://open.touchbasic.com/journal/?p=92#comment-42 Dear Risa: Thanks for directing me to your article. At a first reading, I find it fine. It is a very difficult subject to write on, as we must first assume that there are many perspectives from which to explore the material. The Wikipedia article is interesting, but the author seems stuck on the idea of repetitive action being the cause of problems, and I do not think this is always the case. For example, an accident can create a reaction that is protective and adaptive and becomes a constant in an instant. So I don’t think that repetition is the issue. But that is just quibbling. Were I to write an article (I have, but they reside on my hard drive, reluctant to venture forth in their sorry dress), I would stress the functioning of postural reflexes as they predict and adapt to our conceptions and decisions. I would explain the hierarchy of these reflexes, and how the first adjustments for possible action involve changes in balance, and are seen in the tonic neck reflexes. But I prefer to save my hot air for my students, who, anyway, will get more from a kinesthetic encounter than they would from an attempt at presenting theory. Hope you are well, Lawrence Dear Risa: Thanks for directing me to your article. At a first reading, I find it fine. It is a very difficult subject to write on, as we must first assume that there are many perspectives from which to explore the material. The Wikipedia article is interesting, but the author seems stuck on the idea of repetitive action being the cause of problems, and I do not think this is always the case. For example, an accident can create a reaction that is protective and adaptive and becomes a constant in an instant. So I don’t think that repetition is the issue. But that is just quibbling. Were I to write an article (I have, but they reside on my hard drive, reluctant to venture forth in their sorry dress), I would stress the functioning of postural reflexes as they predict and adapt to our conceptions and decisions. I would explain the hierarchy of these reflexes, and how the first adjustments for possible action involve changes in balance, and are seen in the tonic neck reflexes. But I prefer to save my hot air for my students, who, anyway, will get more from a kinesthetic encounter than they would from an attempt at presenting theory.
Hope you are well,
Lawrence

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