Building Sensory Awareness
Step 2
Last week we dove into the senses to increase and fine-tune your awareness and use of the senses. Magic happens in our movement and access to coordination when we are awake and alive at the moment through the senses.
This week, we take step 2 and combine the senses to create a multi-sensory awareness. For example, can you feel your feet and the movements of your breath? Or Can you open your vision to include walls, ceiling, and floor as you sense the movement of your fingers?
The process of nurturing the multi-sensory awareness begins by inviting the two senses into your experience and noticing them as you process. You can shift more of the focus to one, but still have some access to the other and back.
Here are some ideas for you to play around with…
Feel the air moving through your nasal passage as you notice the movement of your feet as you walk.
Hear the layers of sounds in your spaces you work at your computer, thinking, and creating.
Feel your contact with a pen or pencil as you feel the ribs moving in your torso.
Notice the walls, ceiling, and floor as you play long tones and hear your sound.
Hear your sound as you feel your fingers contact your instrument, or your clothes if you are a singer.
Be creative! Some combinations or even certain senses might be harder to access. Continue to practice them away from your instrument in a comfortable activity like walking. Notice what it is like to pay attention to the senses as you navigate your activity, music-making, or otherwise. Notice if the awareness adds anything to sound, expression, or simply ease of the activity.
Be curious…
This week’s Virtual Drop=in Body Mapping Class dives into Hip Joints! What are they, how do they influence my playing and how can I utilize them to propel my expression. Tuesdays, 3pm ET. Join me and other curious musicians to build out your user’s guide to the body for playing better!