The Universal Constant in Living

Howells, T. H.; Alexander, F. Matthias

doi:10.2307/1417379

The American Journal of Psychology

1943

DOI: 10.2307/1417379

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The Universal Constant in Living

T. H. Howells¹,

F. Matthias Alexander²

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1965

2023

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Cited by 11 publications

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“…One of the core principles of the AT is the primary control. This is defined as the relationship between the head, neck, and trunk/spine (Alexander, 1946;Conable & Conable, 1995), and it is essential in determining the quality of movement, or how well the body functions (Jain et al, 2004). Pianists in particular focus a great deal on their upper extremities.…”

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confidence: 99%

The effect of lessons in the Alexander Technique on pianists’ posture during performance

et al. 2023

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The Alexander Technique (AT) is a somatic method often employed by musicians, including pianists, which teaches its students to become consciously aware of their own postural behavior while carrying out various tasks. Little research has been conducted as to whether, and if so, how the AT affects the posture of pianists while they are playing the piano, and quantitative measurements of their postural angles have not yet been taken. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an intervention consisting of 10 AT lessons on pianists’ postural angles while playing, and to find out if the effects were still evident 4 weeks later. The following postural angles were measured before and after the intervention: craniovertebral angle, head tilt, head–neck–trunk angle, trunk angle, thoracic angle, thoracolumbar angle, and lumbar angle. There were significant effects of the intervention such that the craniovertebral and head–neck–trunk angles were found to have increased, and trunk, thoracic, and thoracolumbar angles were found to have decreased both immediately post-intervention and 4 weeks later. The AT appears to be a viable method of altering postural behavior while playing the piano, as seen in an overall pattern of spinal extension.

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The effect of lessons in the Alexander Technique on pianists’ posture during performance

et al. 2023

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Method for changing stereotyped response patterns by the inhibition of certain postural sets.

Jones¹

1965

Psychological Review

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An empirical method is described for changing habitual response patterns by inhibiting postural sets which disturb the reflex balance of the head. The procedure results in a redistribution of postural tonus which is reported by S as a decrease in the feeling of weight and in the effort needed to move. Differences in posture and movement are recorded by multiple-image photography, X-ray photography, and electromyography. Anatomical and physiological mechanisms are suggested to explain the phenomenon. The implications for behavioral science are discussed.

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Dewey, Women, and Weirdoes: or, the Potential Rewards for Scholars who Dialogue across Difference

Cunningham¹,

Granger²,

Morse³

et al. 2008

Education and Culture

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The Universal Constant in Living

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

The effect of lessons in the Alexander Technique on pianists’ posture during performance

The effect of lessons in the Alexander Technique on pianists’ posture during performance

Method for changing stereotyped response patterns by the inhibition of certain postural sets.

Dewey, Women, and Weirdoes: or, the Potential Rewards for Scholars who Dialogue across Difference

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