Moving and Feeling Better
”It’s probably going to hurt again… Ugh, yes. My wrist and thumb are still hurting. I even took some time off - I thought that would help. Why doesn’t this happen to anyone else? I must be doing something wrong. Or I’m just a bad pianist. Maybe I should quit…”
Does any of that sound familiar? It’s a sample of my self-talk from 10 years ago. It’s pretty negative, isn’t it? I wasn’t moving or thinking well at the time.
Thankfully, I’m much better now. But I see similar thought patterns in some of my students who deal with pain. Sometimes, we’re not even aware those thoughts exist.
To be clear, pain is very real. It’s not just in your head. But your thoughts play a crucial role in how you experience pain.
I want to dive deeper into this for a moment. Let’s start with a simple truth: Pain is complex.
Dr. Rachel Zoffness, author of the Pain Management Workbook, writes that:
“The causes of pain, and therefore the most effective methods for treating it, are biopsychosocial… Because your brain is connected to your body 100% of the time, your social, emotional, and physical health are intricately, inextricably intertwined.”
This means that in order to address it well, we have to explore three domains:
Biology: Movement and dysfunction, diet, sleep, etc…
Psychology: Thoughts, beliefs, emotions, coping behaviors
Social: Family, friends, environment, culture, society
A framework like this points us in the right direction when we’re searching for solutions. This matters: we’re not guessing, hoping that a random change will make a difference.
Instead, we address those three domains when resolving pain and discomfort. Here’s what one of my students had to say about his experience:
“The lessons were a lifesaver for me. I had debilitating pain that prevented me from playing piano, and the lessons with Jordan made it possible for me to return to playing. The lessons also improved my movements generally, when doing things like driving, working at the computer, cutting vegetables, etc.”
- Alex K. (Boston, MA)
A surprising number of pianists - even professionals - have pain or discomfort. I went through a serious bout of tendonitis myself, so I get it. (More info here.) That experience is what drives me to help others.
Keep reading if you’re interested…
Technique Transformation
Lessons designed to help pianists feel and play better.
Learn to move and think better so you can spend more time playing and less time with pain and limitations.
100% of the pianists who try this have felt improvement.
Pianists in these lessons will:
Overcome past trauma and regain their love and joy for music-making.
Learn how to use their body’s best movements so they feel better and better.
Turn their mental chatter into an ally, rather than a liability.
Develop a resilient technique that lasts for life.
Explore any music they like. (Seriously, from Bach to Bill Evans to Bob Dylan.)
This Studio Program Includes:
Studio Lessons: You get four lessons every month to learn, grow, and feel better.
“Practice-With-Me” Sessions: I want you to practice like a pro, so we’ll meet for two 30m sessions where I provide real-time practice feedback.
Better Movement Basics: Use this 1-page cheat sheet as a daily reminder to make better movement your habit.
Tactics Toolbag: A quick reference to the best practice tools to master difficult music.
Email support: You won’t get stuck waiting until the next lesson. I’m here to help!
These are NOT:
One-size-fits-all. Every student’s lesson looks a little different.
Lessons where the teacher just says “Sit up tall” and “Practice more”.
For those seeking a quick-fix or magic bullet. It takes effort, but it’s worth it.
Would you like to join?
Enrollment is open for summer - there are 8 studio spots remaining.
If you’d like to be one of those students, click below to get started.
Do you have questions? Check out the FAQs page.
Not sure if this is right? I offer a free trial lesson to see if it’s a good fit.
“My piano lessons are music therapy. Jordan’s curious, exploratory, and non-judgmental approach to piano playing is really beneficial. I am more at peace with where I am in my piano journey!”
- Kate B. (Dallas, TX)
“I worried that the online modality wouldn't allow the teacher to pick up on subtle sources of tension or bad posture, and that there are things you just have to feel to diagnose. I was surprised at how many subtleties about my movements Jordan was able to pick up just by closely watching and asking me questions.”
- Yarden
“I started taking lessons with Jordan after I experienced some pain playing piano, and the lessons with him have completely transformed how I play and even sit at the piano. Once we got over those growing pains, Jordan and I started working out arrangements to tunes and diving more into harmony. Jordan has a unique gift for explaining complex music theory concepts in a way that anyone could understand, and he can really transfer these abstractions from mere ideas to the actual piano playing.”
- Eliya (Illinois)