Musicians use an incredible number of muscles to accomplish amazing musical feats!  Have you noticed students today are looking a bit more slumped in the shoulders, or struggle to maintain breath support?  Try incorporating a few of these exercises to combat muscle fatigue and help build endurance!

#1 Posture! (Neck & Shoulders)

• Find a blank wall
• Web fingers and hold against belly for support
• Center your weight over big toe, little toe, and heels
• Tuck chin: ear lobe over soldiers, relax
• Repeat a few times

• Now extend arms out with palms forward
• Keeping arms in line with the wall, bring hands to the ears
• Repeat a few times

• Tuck chin
• Elbows at a field goal stance against the wall
• Pull arms in front of you with palms and elbows touching
• Hold 5 sec and bring back against wall
• Repeat a few times

#2 Better Posture! (Lower Back & Core)

• Lay on the floor (yoga mat) and relax with palms up
• Breath deeply and expand the stomach for 4 counts
• Exhale through the mouth for 4 then 8 then 16 counts
• Flip over
• Lay on the ground on your stomach
• Palms down in front of you by your sides (90º angle)
• Toes pointed
• Push up to straighten arms into Cobra position
• Hold for 10 counts
• Come back down to forearms
• Tuck toes under
• Raise up into a plank position
• Hold for 20 counts
• Release onto knees and sit back into Child’s Pose

Week 3:  Wrist Strength!

Using a Gyro Ball

• Start
• Hold hand steadily for 5 sec
• Extend arm for 4 and in for 4

Week 4:  More Fingers, Arms, Wrist Strength!

Weighted Roll Up:

• Stand tall with good posture
• Extend arms in front of you
• Hold on to the handle of an item that has a weight suspended on a rope in the center
• Wind rope around the handle with your finger tips (keep arms straight!)