“I felt like it kind of gave me a sense of strength.”

That’s what a violist said after a small but powerful shift in awareness during one of my masterclasses.

She came in preparing a Debussy excerpt for an audition. The notes were there. The technique was solid. And yet… something felt held back. Constricted. As if the music wasn’t quite allowed to come all the way through.

She wasn’t sure what to work on next. So instead of talking about bow speed or vibrato, I invited her attention somewhere else.

Rather than experiencing the sound as coming from “just here” at the viola, I asked her to include her whole torso in her awareness. To imagine that space as open, spacious, almost radiant. Like a quiet sun glowing from within ☀️

The change was immediate.

The first time through: correct, careful, slightly guarded.
The next time: grounded, rich, confident. Her sound didn’t just improve. It blossomed.

The other musicians noticed it right away.
“Her sound just opened.”
“There’s something completely different about her presence.”
“She’s not only present with herself… she has the confidence to project it.”

And then something else happened.

When she spoke afterward, her speaking voice had changed too. More grounded. More present. Carrying the same sense of strength she’d just felt while playing.

That’s not a coincidence.

Whether it’s the viola or the speaking voice, expression comes from the same place. When you’re more fully present in yourself, your sound reflects that. Your voice reflects that. You’re no longer forcing expression. You’re allowing it 🎶

This is what becomes possible when your Primary Instrument, your whole mind-body-self, is integrated with the musical instrument you’re holding.

So many technical “problems” soften or resolve when we stop trying to fix the sound and instead free up the person making it.

The freedom you’re looking for isn’t something you need to add.

It’s already there. 🌿

If this resonates with you, and you’re curious what might shift when you bring your whole self into your playing or your voice, you’re welcome to reach out. I’m always happy to have a
conversation about what’s possible.

Joyfully,
Jennifer 🙂