Hello and welcome to Playing Well! I’m Randall Kertz, a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and bassist in private practice in suburban Chicago, and I specialize in injury prevention, treatment, and management for musicians, a topic I write and lecture about extensively.
Designed as a way to let many frustrated guitarists continue playing, Rock-iT Barre was created to play guitar chords (and still allow for some fingering) for experienced guitarists who have developed arthritis or for those who have a missing digit.
In this latest article we will cover an example from my book, Simple Drumming For Seniors, of an easy exercise you can do to increase your concentration.
To many people, music is simply a tool for relaxation, distraction, focus, or fun. To parents, it’s often just another after-school activity that keeps their child busy. But what many people don’t realize is that, if utilized correctly, music can literally change the human brain both physically and cognitively. Scientists in areas like neuroscience and […]
Whether you are a professional guitar player, play the guitar for fun, or are just beginning your guitar-playing journey with a passion to learn, music is a great outlet for relieving stress and expressing yourself. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind in relation to playing the guitar and maintaining your […]
Musicians know that music can help the mind and soul. Songs can help you express how you are feeling at a particular moment. They can remind you of emotions or events from your past. People have been using music to feel better for centuries. Over the past few decades, there has been more research on […]
Sounds of Saving Gives Away Over 2,000 Vinyl Records in NYC Parks for World Suicide Prevention Day On Tuesday, September 10, non-profit advocacy organization Sounds of Saving launched a new awareness campaign dedicated to helping those suffering with mental health issues through connection with music. To raise awareness for World Suicide Prevention Day, Sounds of Saving — a nonprofit created […]
By Jennifer Johnson Body Mapping is the method, first discovered by cellist William Conable and then thoroughly developed by Barbara Conable, to teach musicians how to move according to the true anatomical design of the body in order to prevent injury and enhance facility and artistry. During her years teaching the Alexander Technique, Barbara realized […]
Looking after your voice presents a different set of challenges to looking after an external instrument. Your vocal cords are a part of your body and as such are subject to all the trials and tribulations our bodies undergo on a daily basis. It’s no coincidence that just about everything on the list of vocal […]
The Mozart Effect is a controversial hypothesis that is commonly simplified into: “Listening to classical music makes you smarter.”