Sounds Like Me by Elisabeth Swim
  • Studio
  • F.A.Q.
  • Blog
  • Bio
  • Listen

Both Hands, Now!

2/27/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Which hand do you use to write? Is that the same hand you use to open jars and to point at your screen? How about your other hand? What is it doing right now?

People who play the piano have strong and independent connections from both hands to the brain. This means many pianists find it easy to do two totally different things with their hands at the same time!

If you want some extra mind-body power to draw on every day, start by simply noticing each hand throughout the day:

  1. Slowly stretch each hand and then curl it into a fist. Do this one hand at a time. Name what happens: my right hand is opening, now closing, and so on.
  2. Throughout your day, notice what each hand is doing. Sense texture, pressure and movement. Name it, if you like.
  3. Whenever possible, invite your learning hand (non-dominant) to take over for your strong hand, just for fun. You may be surprised at what you discover!

Let me know what you discover! Send me a note or post a comment on my FB page here.
Photo by José González on Unsplash
0 Comments

Rhythm First

2/27/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photo by Leo Rivas on Unsplash
Rhythm and rhythmic movement are critical to the basics of life: almost all of our regulatory functions keep some sort of a beat, from the heart to the breath.

Born for Love (Szalavitz & Perry 2011)

The first sounds that a fetus in mom’s belly hears are rhythmic in nature. Mother’s heartbeat pulses through amniotic fluid, which also carries the vibrations from her body movements. In time, the baby grows to hear cadences of her voice and those of other friends and family members.

If you think about sounds you hear in daily life, the most meaningful ones have some sort of rhythm, whether slow, fast or changing. Even the easiest sounds to get used to, white noise, are based on some sort of steady rhythm. To get attention, car alarms often have a varied pattern of sounds, each with a different rhythm.

Rhythm is important to our making sense of the sounds we hear around us. We often notice it more when it is missing than we do when it is there in a steady way.
​

However, adding rhythm to a challenging task can make that task easier and more enjoyable! Try listening to instrumental music the next time you are engaged with something repetitive. Does it help? Write me a note to let me know! 

Music is rhythm. Language is rhythm. Play is rhythm. When we improve rhythm, we make other areas of life easier and more enjoyable.
0 Comments

    Elisabeth C. Swim

    Playful Mindful Music Guide
    Founder of The Secret Choir

    Archives

    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018

    Categories

    All
    Education
    Kids
    Learning
    Lessons
    Music

    RSS Feed

Glad to Visit with You!

Sounds Like Me Inc. Houston, TX  77023

  • Studio
  • F.A.Q.
  • Blog
  • Bio
  • Listen