YOU are the INSTRUMENT & YOUR LIFE is the MUSIC... by Pyeng Threadgill

Do you ever notice how you feel when a new audition or job opportunity comes in?

The racing heartbeat, maybe ecstatic visualization of a sold out theater, then the fear that maybe you are too late and soon you are scrambling to respond to that message? It’s so easy to delve into your inbox, bathe in social media, even jump into your music and forget to take time to connect with yourself.

As performing artists, I often feel that our medium has taught us to neglect all things for a potential job… not even a job, a potential job! Lol! You skip meals, work outs, sleep... all so that you can try out a role, prepare for your solo, write the next song, promote your show. 

I know, because I have been there! As artists even the phrases we use like “keep up the hustle” reflect this over-emphasis on the external. I have to say it wasn’t until I became a mother that I really could observe the toll that my work habits had taken on my body. Sure, I could work through the day when my daughter was at school, forget to eat, stay up late sending out emails to presenters, venues or bandmates and while I thought I was available to music, the fact that I felt more tired and irritable with my family was a signal that in fact something was out of balance. 

As an Alexander Technique teacher we spend a great deal of time observing physical and mental habits in order to sense the moment when your mind tells your body to work harder in order to hit a note, lift your arm, take a step forward. This same kind of “over-efforting” can often be observed on a macro level as well. For example how you approach your job as an artist?

Part of what I love helping students to understand and Embody is that YOU are the instrument and EVERYTHING is your art! Your getting out of bed, the food you choose to prepare for yourself, the way you schedule your day and whether you leave yourself breaks or not, all of it is your art.

If you want a long lasting career, you need to prioritize ALL of you, not just the performance onstage.

So where are you forgetting to see your life as an art?

In your personal relationships? in your meal planning?, in your movement?, even in how you approach your music? And what kind of support do you need to feel more balanced so that you can fully show up in your life and onstage? 

​If you feel like you need this kind of accountability, I offer a monthly series called “Tuning In” for music accountability and embodied artist practice. To find out more, email here and make sure to schedule your next session with Katie. :)
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