Workshops

Body Mapping

The response to Body Mapping workshops has have been very rewarding.  Faculty groups have been extraordinarily open to the process and excited about what it can offer them as players and as teachers Student groups are hungry for this basic information so they can play with more fluency and  deal with issues of pain or injury.


Very inspiring stuff...you've tapped into something that has supreme relevance.

Lance Van Lenten, Professor,Berklee College


Wanted to tell you thanks for talking to me about the wrist last lesson. I had never realized the wrist started this far in the palm of my hand. I was practicing to Miles Davis Plugged Nickel album and I concentrated on that part of my hand, where I now understood the wrist began.  As I was playing I developed a new motion in my playing almost immediately.  It was easier to keep time with the fast tempo of the Miles tune, and the sound coming out of the cymbal was much better.  More importantly it was an extremely relaxed movement.  I felt I could keep the fast tempo going all day.  I had seen drummers such as Tony Williams and Jeff Watts use this motion in the past, but I never understood what they were doing until I became aware of where the wrist actually begins.  Thanks for showing me this, I really can't believe more drummers aren't aware of this.
    Dennis Souzi, Berklee Graduate

Embodying Rhythm

I have had the pleasure of giving many rhythm workshops when I have been on tour in Europe, most recently in Vienna, Austria and Freiburg, Germany. The workshops focus on the understanding of all levels of rhythmic structure (beat, meter, linear and vertical motion, large scale rhythmic structures) and experiencing these elements fully, in the body.  Odd-Meter  Workshops are also very popular.


"I thank you for your amazing input. I applied the principles of developing a feeling for every possible placement in the most common subdivisions to my practice routine, combined it with the full body awareness and exercises you showed us and added my observations. And WOW! I am playing better, more relaxed, concentrated and swinging then EVER before. Also all the people I played with recently were surprised."


Jan,  Jazz & Rock Schulen Freiburg

Piano Workshops and Lessons

From the interface of various  somatic (mind-body) studies including: Tai-Chi, Body-Mapping, Alexander Technique, piano study with extraordinary teacher Burton Hatheway and from years of teaching experience; I have developed an approach to the piano that attempts to fully integrates movement and music. I am interested in sharing what I have learned. A number of students have come to me because of "tendonitis" and other similar issues. When one moves well playing the piano can become a health giving activity. 


  "Doug was instrumental in helping me learn how to play without pain. After years of fighting chronic muscle strain and tendonitis and going to many occupational therapists for treatment, I took one lesson with Doug and the pain disappeared. Body mapping has saved my hands and made playing the piano not only enjoyable but also a healing experience for my entire body."
  Christine Lodder, Berklee student. 


Lessons focus on the concerns and needs of the individual student. 





    

Workshops and Presentations

         
  • Graz Jazz Academy Residency, Body-mapping and Improvisation (2015)
  • Performance Arts Medicine Association (PAMA), Tampa, Tensegrity (2015)
  • Performance Arts Medicine Association (PAMA), Toronto, Body-Mapping for Musicians (2015)
  •  Piano Pedagogy Symposium, Faculty, USF, Tampa (2014)
  •  Performance Arts Medicine Association (PAMA)
  •  University of Brasilia, Residency teaching Body-Mapping (2014)
  •  Wellesley College, Body Mapping Workshop (2013)
  • Performing Arts Medicine Association Symposium (PAMA), Understanding Pianist’s Pain and Injury (2013)
  • Andover Educators 6th Biennial International Conference, Understanding Pianist’s Pain and Injury (2013)
  • Amerikahaus, Vienna, Rhythm Workshop “Embodying Rhythm”(2013)
  • Berklee City Music Faculty Body Mapping Training (2013)
  • Freiburg Rock and Jazz Hochschule, Rhythm Workshop (2012)
  • Vienna Music Institute, Rhythm Workshop “Embodying Rhythm”(2012)
  • Berklee Teachers on Teaching (BTOT) Music, Communication and the Alexander Technique (2011)
  • Performance Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) Motion and Music (2010)
  • American Society of Alexander Technique Teachers (AMSAT) Music, Communication and the Alexander Technique (2010)
  •  Vienna Conservatory, Odd-Meter Performance and Harmonic Concepts Workshop (2009)
  •  Krakow Jazz Academy, Rhythm Workshop (2008)­