What is the Feldenkrais Method?

David Bowes, workshop leader

David's life work has been to give his music students the experience of being able to
play their instrument with ease and enjoyment, with the ability to transmit the essence of
the printed music from the page to the heart of the audience.  About 8 years ago, he
was experiencing a troublesome pain in his left shoulder, and wanted to connect with
someone who could observe him with his viola in hand.  A friend reminded him that
another Bay Area friend was a Feldenkrais practitioner, and to solicit her help. The
result of this consultation, which David now knows is called "Functional Integration" is
the basis of the method that Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984) set forth in the
hundreds of lessons that are called "Awareness Through Movement", or ATM.

One of his "Aha!" moments in his Feldenkrais training was seeing the integrated
connection between working with a client on a table and the movements set out in the
Awareness Through Movement lessons. Functional Integration work is mutually guided,
practitioner and client, whereas Awareness Through Movement is self-monitored as the
lessons are given by the teacher.  Most ATM lessons are done lying on the back, on the
floor.  This was a deliberate choice by Dr. Feldenkrais, as he wanted his students to
experience themselves "out of gravity", not subject to the forces thereof, nor repeating
the habitual patterns that a person has while in standing.  David feels very fortunate to
be part of this community that has dedicated their practices to easing pain, changing old
habits, and being able to have a fuller, richer, more resilient life as a result. 

David has lived in the Bay Area since 1976.  He served most recently as Principal Viola
for Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, the American Bach Soloists, Lamplighters
Theater, and Midsummer Mozart.  He was also hired as an extra viola by the San
Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera, and the Santa Fe Opera.

David feels very lucky to have "been in the right places and at the right times". His first
early music gig in Europe was in Amsterdam, playing Handel's "Jeptha" directed by Ivan
Fisher.

Baroque violin study was undertaken with Sigiswald Kuijken in Antwerp one summer. 
While he was there, an invitation came from Les Arts Florissants in Paris, and he went
back and forth from CA to Paris for several years for work.

Always interested in the synchronicity of life, David meanwhile nurtured a 40-year
relationship with the string pedagogue Kato Havas, OBE.  Her philosophies around the
release of tensions in string playing have worked beautifully with the Feldenkrais
Method. He is deeply indebted to the many teachers that contributed to his evolution as
a musician and teacher along the way.

In addition to his studies at BGSU, David is an alumnus of the Manhattan School of
Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.