Being a musician again after Covid

Playing music requires our whole self - our bodies, our minds and our psyche. That is, of course,
the wonder of music but it is not surprising if coming back to playing music together after lock-
down is challenging. I have noticed in colleagues, in pupils and in my own playing a range of
physical and mental challenges;

• Mental fatigue and doubt - Can I still do this? How will it be playing in close proximity to
other people? Am I safe? How can I adapt to being 2 meters away from colleagues? Do
you find your mind wonders and you find it difficult to stay in the moment when playing?

• Physical tiredness - whether caused by long-Covid, physical fatigue from a change to the
rhythm of life or a more static lifestyle, musicians are finding getting “playing fit” a chal-
lenge. As wind musicians, our first question must be;
“How is my breathing?” Has the anxiety of the past 18 months caused your breathing to become
shallow? Do you feel you have used your muscles differently and have to re-find your playing
ones?
Have you only played for shorter lengths of time during lockdown? Playing alone has meant being
able to stop, take a breath or a pause whenever we want. How does it feel to play a whole piece
with others? How does your stamina feel? It may take time to feel “fit” again.

• Changes in our Psyche. Do you feel emotionally exhausted? Have you spent so long play-
ing alone in a small space that filling a large room with sound is daunting? Indeed, have
you felt emotionally unable to face your instrument with the pressures of working at home,
home schooling, caring duties, concerns for your own health? All of these factors affect
our Physical and Mental well-being as well, causing a cycle of related factors that can
negatively feed each other.

Mental
health
Physical
well-being

Pysche

I have noticed all of these factors in my own playing and in that of my pupils and colleagues have
shared their own doubts and concerns. Pupils have struggled to find the correct breathing
muscles, they don’t feel mentally strong enough to “perform” and they find it difficult to project
their sound after so long playing in their homes. Everyone has played alone, we are not used to
being a team and it takes time to find the skills of listening to others around us (or learning how to
listen from 2 meters away), responding intuitively to subtle gestures and body language.

But if our Physical, Mental and Psychological well-being can negatively affect our playing, we can
also use the flowing link between these three factors in a positive way. We just need to know how.
 Back to basics

The Breath

Take time to find your breathing muscles. Lie down and breathe gently and slowly and note ten-
sion in your body. “Note” means observe - not respond or berate yourself. Focus on the breathing
alone. When you feel comfortable, do the same exercise in standing. Are your feet rooted strongly
into the ground? Are your knees flexible and legs relaxed? Take your instrument and focus solely
on keeping the body relaxed and the breathing strong. Play one note. How does it feel? How is it
different from before?

Posture

Sit as if to play. Remember to sit in such a way as to allow good breathing. Close your eyes and
focus on each area of your body from the feet upwards and note where you feel relaxed. Ah! My
big toe is relaxed. Hold your focus there for a moment and enjoy the feeling before moving on.
Having found all the lovely relaxed places, quietly take your instrument and breathe in, without
creating further tension in the body. How does it feel to play so? This is a basic exercise in
Alexander Technique.

Inner voice

When the body is relaxed it is easier to note and expel the negative thoughts that often come with
tension in the body. Note the gremlin on your shoulder telling you what you can’t do and push it
away with the new found strength and freedom in your body. Often these negative thoughts are
our early warning system telling us of danger ahead. You can reassure yourself; “It’s OK, thanks
for the warning, but I am just fine.”

A relaxed body, strong core and a focused mind will lead to psychological well-being, and thus
help you to achieve your full potential as a musician once more.