LEVEL 1

Build the Physical Foundation Your Playing Thrives On

Understanding How Well-Coordinated Playing Works

Level 1 is where your training inside the Helen Aun Institute begins.

Over 8 weeks, you'll develop a new understanding of how you use your body at the piano and identify and eliminate patterns that may be creating tension or pain.

You'll learn to recognise what is actually happening in your body when you play, understand why certain problems keep returning, and develop the awareness and tools to start changing the habits behind them.

What We Will Cover

Alexander Technique applied to piano playing

Our unique approach of applying the Alexander ideology to piano playing to bring about lasting change in coordination, muscle tone and mental stress levels
Knowing how the body was designed to move, so we can work with that design, instead of against it

Whole body awareness

Approaching the playing from a whole body orientation, a crucial angle missed by most piano methods. You play with your whole body and every part is connected, affecting your technique and ease of playing

Piano posture and setup

Knowing exactly how to sit at the piano without tension (including how high and how far to sit) and best strategies for moving to different parts of the keyboard

Healthy arm and hand movements

How to let go of upper body tension and how to avoid arm, wrist and hand injuries
The role of the shoulder, elbow and wrist and how they together create an efficient piano technique (letting go of outdated ideas still used in the piano world)
Creating effortless sound using natural arm weight and gravity instead of pressure and tension

Performance skills

We lay the groundwork for being able to feel relaxed and confident on stage through bodywork and learning how to let go of stress in the mind.
There are low key performance opportunities in Level 1, so you can start putting what you are learning into practice in a relaxed environment

"I came to Helen as a Conservatoire student in jazz piano, with chronic tendonitis (a repetitive strain injury) in my right wrist. From the first session on she was a supportive and encouraging mentor. During Level 1 I gained a deeper understanding of my posture and piano technique, which has improved the causes of my injury in just 8 weeks.. It’s been eye-opening as a performer and teacher and I am very grateful for Helen’s advice."