Today, we're celebrating Pam Guntrum, Violin! 🎉

Here’s Pam’s experience:

“It’s hard to believe that 6 months has really passed since I started your program. And it has been quite a journey. Looking back at the reasons for why I decided to join your program, I think it was the idea of learning to play the violin without tension. I had not experienced pain related to playing the violin until May of this year when the hours of cumulative practice with tension caught up with me.

I had read a few books that touched on the topic of musicians and musculoskeletal issues but these seemed to impact professional musicians that made their livelihood from their instrument and I never thought it would happen to me! I actually would spend 10 minutes before picking up my violin doing several arm and shoulder stretches that I gleaned from these books as a preventative type of activity but when I experienced the pain in May, it obviously wasn’t working to prevent the pain. Since I started your program, I’ve been doing the awareness etudes instead!

The greatest take away I learned was keeping the ‘Primary Concern' [a tool for awareness and presence] primary. I don’t think I quite “got” this concept until I was into the program for about 4 months. Hearing the words from yourself and seeing the videos and listening to others during class is one thing. Having an “aha” moment of “oh, now I get it” is another, and also knowing that it’s a constant reminder to myself throughout the day to ask myself “what is happening to me as I ….

I found the 1:1 coaching sessions with you to be valuable. Knowing we had dedicated time to discuss issues and concerns that were important to me within the context of the program was healing.

I knew I was evolving when I reviewed my Life Design Mind Map and changed my life purpose from “Empowering others and improve my skills and knowledge through education” to “To express joy”.

As we discussed, I’ve done work through the past several decades on life issues, so my approach to this work was very similar in that I take the ideas offered and see how I can apply them. Which brings me to what I really like about your approach is that you offer your ideas and you gave me the option to consider or not. (And this is before I learned about the Alexandrian No).

Your approach is very open and respectful of the many different types of opinions and attitudes that others may have. I really liked it when you asked me and the others during demonstrations of “how did you do that” , or “ what was that like for you” as it helped me to eventually begin to ask myself the same questions during practice.

The live ZOOM classes were helpful although I do have a resistance to Zoom from my final year of work before retirement when all work related meetings were on Zoom. Not a criticism of your program, just PSTD from work when I was on Zoom for 3-5 hours a day. I did get a lot out of the videos. And the people in the community are wonderful!!

I also liked the pre-coaching worksheets as this kept me on track with identifying my own progress and what I wanted to request from each session.

As to successes, learning CT has been so valuable in so many parts of my life. I find myself using phrases such as “where else” , “I have time”, “I am free”, “he is free”, throughout the day. And using CT has been useful for me to identify feelings, thoughts and opinions when I remember to use it! And the experience of enjoying myself performing at my last concert was a success as well. I want to continue to ‘make the meat that feeds itself', or something like that!

I am so glad you and your program have given me a solid foundation for my primary instrument [my whole SELF]!”

Thank you, Pam, for sharing your amazing journey with us! ❤️
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Ready to experience your own unique transformation in your musical life?

Reach out to learn more about my private coaching and group programs for musicians and creatives of all kinds. I’d love to connect with you and explore how your musical journey can open up in new and inspiring ways!

With Love & Light,
Jennifer ❤️