REVIEW of "Guitar Playing and How it Works" by Martin Finnegan - Alexander Teacher

The Technique

Enter the Alexander Technique. Alexander's principles are introduced early on in a simple way so as not to overwhelm the reader, and are brought back in here and there where needed. It's a good balance, as just in day-to-day life, Alexander Technique itself isn't the point, but one of the means to help achieve an optimum outcome.

The author begins with a plea to the reader to 'connect with your spine' by practicing semi-supine and moves on to sitting with the guitar with an emphasis on lengthening spine and the head going forward and up. This may be where those not initiated into the Alexander technique might of course come into some difficulty. However they wouldn't be the first musician to play with a little extra tension, and one can only hope that those who have an interest (or probably more likely, an experience of pain) will be inspired to follow the Alexander path further.

New Terminology

As Alexander Teachers we know how important language is! One important aspect of Peter's approach is the use of new and different musical terms. For example he states that the term "plucking" is a loaded word. "For most people it suggests a movement involving a squeezing, gripping and pulling". It is loaded with preconceptions about the degree of force or effort required to produce a sound. The author suggests that the terms "stroking" and "rippling" might be better words to describe the actions of the fingers on the strings and will help the student to discover how little effort is required to work the fingers!

Dexterity and independence of the fingers is, in an orthodox approach to the guitar, something that can only be acquired by "finger exercises". The author takes a different view- that finger independence is not achieved by rote practice of drills and exercises alone but actually develops as a normal function when you play with an understanding of the natural, connected movements of the fingers, combined with an awareness of rhythm.

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Please note that...

"Guitar Playing and how it works"

... was superceded in December 2007 by...

"Guitar Playing and How it Works - 3rd Edn."

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