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Forum Member:
Do you have any differentiation in breathing instruction for a non wind player or is it all the same?

JG:
In coaching recovery from task specific focal dystonia, no differentiation is required, as the breath here is used as a tool to access a physical and mental relaxation response. All humans (again, in my experience) have this relaxation response hardwired into their nervous system. Accessing this response, in combination with gaining efficiency in playing technique, mental direction and emotions, is in my experience a powerful way of helping solve TSFD issues. I’m not so interested in the ‘musician’ or the technique required to play a particular instrument – all of the people I speak with already *know* how to play. There is a just a barrier with TSFD – a handbrake if you will. I use breathing (and other exercises) to allow the person to release the handbrake. In other words, the breathing I am referring to works on a deeper level than merely instrument specific technique – it is a level which is common for all human beings. I aim to help the *person* rather than the ‘musician’.