The Alexander Technique for Vocalists: A Workshop with le Chœur classique de l’Outaouais
General Description:
Brigitte Caron will be giving a workshop on The Alexander Technique for vocalists. This workshop will be offered to members of le Chœur classique de l’Outaouais and will address aspects of posture and breathing specifically related to vocal performance.
Date/Time:
January 25th, 10am-3pm
Location:
University of Ottawa School of Music, Room 109
Language of instruction:
French
Wellness Day at the Gatineau Conservatoire
General Description:
The day-long event will allow students at the Conservatoire to take three different workshops: Yoga for Musicians (with Michael Fahey), Feldenkrais for Musicians (with Jillian Beacon), and Mental Performance Skills for Musicians (with Carolyn Christie). These sessions will be free for all Conservatoire students and will provide practical skills and techniques for improving physical and/or mental wellness specifically related to music making.
Date/Time:
February 8th, 10am-5pm
Location:
Conservatoire de musique de Gatineau
430 Alexandre-Taché Blvd
Gatineau, Quebec J9A 1M7
Language of instruction:
Feldenkrais/Mental Skills - French
Yoga – English
Info Session: Auditory Health and Protection
General Description:
In conjunction with the University of Ottawa Graduate Music Student Association (GMSA), we will be offering an info session on auditory health and protection for University students. Hearing loss affects many musicians who need to maintain auditory health for their profession. Many musicians do not seek help for their hearing loss until after they are already experiencing symptoms of permanent auditory damage. At our info session, participants will learn about risk factors for hearing loss specific to musicians, the symptoms and signs of hearing loss, as well as recommendations for hearing protection to help maintain auditory health.
Date/Time:
February 24, 11:30am-1pm
Location:
School of Music, Creator’s Space, Room 302
General Description:
We will be hosting a Research Study Day to help promote and disseminate new research on musicians’ wellness. The subject of musicians’ wellness has received increased attention from the research community over the past several decades. Research indicates that many musicians are impacted by a variety of wellness issues. Because these issues often present unique challenges, specialized care and understanding is necessary for effective treatment. Despite increased attention, more research is still needed to better understand the effect of treatments and prevention strategies. The study day will include presentations and discussions related to current research in the field of musicians’ wellness (schedule TBA). Members of the public are also welcome to attend.
Date/Time:
Friday, March 20, 9am-5pm
Location:
School of Music, Creator’s Space, Room 302
Who can attend:
Presenters have been chosen based on abstract submissions. All members of the public are welcome to attend presentations.
Language of instruction:
English
Cost:
Free
Workshops in Global Active Stretching
General Description:
Global Active Stretching is a stretching method designed to restore elasticity and flexibility based on the elongation of all neuromuscular coordination chains. The stretching exercises in this class involve the whole body and require the musician's active participation. Sessions will help musicians improve their flexibility and learn stretches that they can continue to use in the future to help maintain musculoskeletal health. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat if you have one.
Who can attend:
All musicians (university students and community members)
Date/Time:
Every Tuesday between November 4-26 (four sessions total), 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location:
University of Ottawa School of Music, Room 208
Language of instruction:
English
Cost:
For all participants: $40 for all four sessions ($10 per session). To reserve a spot, payments must be made in cash at the Piano Lab (University of Ottawa School of Music, Room 204) by 3PM on November 4th.
Registration:
To register, send an email to mwc@uottawa.ca
Musicians' Wellness Centre Information Session
Launch of our Centre Activities
Come and learn about this exciting new project!
Who can attend:
University students and members of the community
Date/Time:
Wednesday, September 18th 2019. 11:30am-12:30pm
Location:
Freiman Hall, School of Music, University of Ottawa
Cost:
Free
Registration:
Not Required
At our launch event, you will learn about the activities and services provided by the centre,
including:
Upcoming events, such as workshops, courses, masterclasses
The new MA degree program focused on Musicians' Wellness
The Musicians' Wellness Centre clinic
Wellness research and opportunities to get involved
Fall 2019 Group Mindfulness Series
Winter 2020 Restorative Yoga for Musicians and Actors
Our Fall Mindfulness Series will consist of six sessions, in which University of Ottawa music students can learn from our Certified Mindfulness Trainer. Each session will allow musicians to improve their wellness and learn new habits of awareness through mindfulness exercises. Recent research suggests that Mindfulness Training can help reduce music students’ experience of performance anxiety. These sessions can include walking meditation, body scanning, QiGong, and discussion periods to help participants process emotions and thoughts that arise during the practice.
Who can attend:
Open to Full-time University of Ottawa music students (not for university credit).
Date/Time: Monday evenings from 6:00-7:00pm.Students will be asked to register for six weekly sessions, running from the week of October 21st until the week of November 25th.
Language of instruction:English
Location:Music School, 50 University (PRZ), Room 208
Description:
We will offer a group of four workshops to help musicians and actors learn about healthy postural habits from our
certified
Yoga Instructor. Our instructor is a musician and actor with 35 years of experience training performing artists.
Participants
will learn about bringing awareness to pelvic alignment, core stability, flexibility, and muscle imbalances
specific to the
individual. The instructor will employ techniques from both yoga and QiGong and emphasize mindful breathing and
body awareness.
The poses and movements used in this course have been chosen for their restorative functions to promote gradual
postural adjustment
through increased awareness, rather than to promote fitness or strength training. The small class size will allow
for individualized
attention for each participant, with the goal of finding strategies for each musician and actor to deal with the
postural challenges
posed to them by their specific instrument. The movements and principles presented would also be of benefit to
music teachers and
drama teachers seeking to incorporate injury prevention strategies and ergonomic playing postures into their
lessons with students
of any level of experience.
Who can attend:
All are welcome: uOttawa students and community members who are not uOttawa students
Date/Time: TBA
Language of instruction: English
Location: TBA
Cost: For full-time uOttawa students: Free For part-time uOttawa students and community members who are not uOttawa students: Visit the Professional Development Institute page.
Registration: For uOttawa students: Register through
uOzone for all four sessions to receive 1 unit. For community members who are not uOttawa students: Register through the Professional Development Institute for all four sessions.
Fall 2019 Workshops: Pain and Injury Prevention for Musicians (MUS4392A)
General Description: Pain, discomfort, and injuries are common among musicians, and the need for
specialized training and
treatment is on the rise. These courses are taught by health professionals who have special experience in
treating musicians.
They will provide practical and theoretical knowledge to help musicians prevent and overcome pain. These
workshops are designed to
equip musicians with knowledge and tools to improve their physical well-being in relation to their instrument.
They will introduce
musicians to anatomy, mechanisms of injury, and strategies for prevention and treatment of injury through the
Alexander Technique,
chiropractic care, the Feldenkrais Method, and physiotherapy. The content of these workshops is applicable to a
wide variety of
musicians and instrumental groups.
Who can attend:
All are welcome: uOttawa students and community members who are not uOttawa students.
Registration: For uOttawa students: Register through uOzone for all three sessions to receive 1.5 units. For community members who are not uOttawa students: Register through the Professional Development Institute for individual sessions.
Language of instruction: English
Cost: For full-time uOttawa students: Free upon course registration For part-time uOttawa students: $361.95 for all three workshops For community members who are not uOttawa students: Visit the Professional Development Institute page
Workshop 1 The Musician’s Body and Repetitive Strain Injuries for Musicians
Workshop 2 Posture and Spine Pain
Workshop 3 The Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais Method for Musicians
