Musician, Heal Thyself!: Free Your Shoulder Region through Body Mapping

Pain in the shoulder region is one of the most common problems afflicting instrumentalists, vocalists, and conductors alike. Musician, Heal Thyself! uses the principles of Body Mapping to free musicians of their shoulder pain, injury, and limitations, leading to more expressive and healthy music making. While keenly aware of the importance of whole-body balance and context, author Jennifer Johnson presents the four most common patterns that cause shoulder pain and fatigue, along with guidance on how to “remap” the body for healthier whole arm movements in playing, singing, and conducting. Also included in the book are anatomical images for remapping and many photographs of world-class musicians who exhibit exemplary arm movement and a free shoulder region in their performances. Especially helpful are the book’s movement exploration activities, online video links, and the appendix, which outlines the functions of the shoulder region muscles in layman’s vocabulary. A healthier approach to music making begins today with the ideas and insights presented in Musician, Heal Thyself!