Health and Wellness
Ringing Safely: Stance, Seat, & Stroke
This class will teach you ergonomic techniques to help you not only survive those long rehearsals, concerts, and day-long ringing festivals, but also do so without pain or soreness. Ringers will be introduced to the “Three S’s”: Stance, Seat and Stroke, and will focus on developing a relaxed ringing style to help control the bell, ring dynamically, and make beautiful music.
Instructor: Michèle Sharik
Stretching for Musicians
Stretching is good, when done right. In this class you will learn why to stretch, what to stretch and how to stretch. Demonstration will be given of stretches that are appropriate for before, during and after a rehearsal, concert, service or other music making opportunities. Note – participants will be invited (and encouraged) to move and actively participate in the class.
Instructor: Rob Meyer-Kukan
Anatomy for Musicians Made Easy
Anatomy sounds technical and difficult to understand. After all, the study of anatomy is only for medical professionals, right? This class will teach you the basics of anatomy as it applies to music making. Building on the concept of, “your body is your instrument”, participants will take away a better understanding of how their body (their instrument) works, moves and makes music.
Instructor: Rob Meyer-Kukan
Preventing Injuries for a Lifetime of Music Making
One of our goals as directors, educators, instructors and handbell musicians is to develop “lifelong musicians”. We do this through teaching music concepts, technique, repertoire, performance practice and more. By learning techniques for healthy music making, coupled with healthy lifestyle practices, we can reduce the chance of injury allowing our bodies the ability to play for a life time. This freedom gives us the opportunity to focus on making music for a greater musical affect.
Instructor: Rob Meyer-Kukan
Rob Meyer-Kukan is the director of music at Dearborn First United Methodist Church, Dearborn, Michigan. He is a lifelong musician and an avid learner. He has rung handbells with The Detroit Handbell Ensemble, Classical Bells and the Capital City Ringers(Lansing, Michigan). He also participates in the Bay View Week of Handbells annually. Rob is a licensed massage therapist and incorporates his anatomical knowledge as well as a focus on healthy musician practices in his work with clients and his music students. Rob is the owner of the Healthy Musician Institute, LLC, where he is a massage therapist, teaches private music lessons and leads classes and workshops.
Michèle Sharik rings professionally with Sonos Handbell Ensemble, is the founding Artistic Director of Timbré, and is an internationally-renowned handbell soloist, conductor, and teacher. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts in 2012 from Cal State San Marcos and a Graduate Certificate in Performing Arts Medicine in 2017 from Shenandoah University, and updated her certification in 2019 from the Performing Arts Medicine Association. Michèle is Master Teacher of Handbell Techniques for the Certification program of the Handbell Musicians of America, and is a former Chair of Area 12.