MysticMag meets Jennifer Roig-Francolí, The Art of Freedom® Coach for musicians. As the creator of The Art of Freedom® Method for Conscious Living and Masterful Artistry, Jennifer is dedicated to helping musicians overcome physical and emotional obstacles to achieve joyful, successful musical lives. A “Rising Star” featured in TIME Magazine, Jennifer has made multiple solo appearances as a violinist at Carnegie Hall and performed with orchestras such as the Pittsburgh and Berlin Symphony Orchestras. An international prize-winning modern and baroque violinist and recording artist, she has also served as Associate Concertmaster and Soloist for Apollo’s Fire. Formerly on the faculty at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Xavier University, Jennifer is a certified Alexander Technique teacher with groundbreaking research published in the Journal of Urology. Her holistic approach empowers musicians to transform pain, tension, and performance anxiety into ease and confidence.
Jennifer, can you share the inspiration behind creating The Art of Freedom® Method and how it specifically addresses the unique challenges faced by musicians today?
The inspiration behind The Art of Freedom® Method stems from my lifelong quest to know myself better. My father always used to tell me, “Just be yourself, Jennifer,” especially when things got tough. While I appreciated his advice, I had no idea how to be myself. Despite performing as a violinist in front of large audiences and internationally, I was an extremely shy kid, terrified of public speaking and struggling with verbal communication. On stage, I could be myself, but offstage, it was nearly impossible.
This led me to discover the Alexander Technique, a discipline that helps you change habits, recognize how your thoughts influence your body and movements, and serves as a healing modality. I dove deeply into this technique and became a certified teacher. However, I wanted to expand this practice into a broader context that explicitly includes the whole self—mind, body, emotions, and spirit. With the creation of The Art of Freedom® Method, I aimed to integrate what I was learning from the Alexander Technique with my personal discoveries and spiritual explorations and share these insights with everyone.
Initially, I focused on helping musicians, given my background, but the Alexander Technique is truly for anyone. It’s about learning to get out of your own way and letting go of the blocks that prevent you from being yourself. When I think about it logically, it’s the simplest concept in the world—who else would I be but myself? We often talk about just being yourself, but the real challenge is understanding and embracing who that truly is.
How do you integrate the principles of the Alexander Technique into your holistic approach, and what specific benefits does this bring to musicians dealing with physical and emotional pain?
The principles of the Alexander Technique are fundamental to my approach because they emphasize the unity of mind and body. The technique originated with Frederick Mathias Alexander, an actor born in 1869, who faced performance issues such as losing his voice on stage. After seeking help from doctors and vocal therapists with no success, Alexander embarked on a process of self-observation and experimentation. He discovered how the mind and body work together, ultimately curing his performance issues and sharing his findings with the world.
Alexander’s principles are universal and holistic. One key principle is mind-body unity, asserting that the mind and body are inseparable. You can’t have a thought without your brain, which is physical. This holistic view is central to the Alexander Technique.
Another principle, unique to this technique, is the concept of the “Primary Control.” This dynamic relationship between the head, neck, and the rest of the body is essential for overall balance and coordination. Alexander discovered that the head leads and the body follows, a principle also observed by scientists in other disciplines studying vertebrate animals. This dynamic relationship is not just physical but also involves a deeper, living connection between parts. After all, if the head leads the body, what leads the head? Getting curious and going beyond the mind-body connection fascinates me.
In my practice, I integrate these principles, along with a number of others related to the natural human design, to help clients achieve greater self-awareness and improved physical and mental well-being. As a musician and violinist, I understand the challenges musicians face, such as repetitive strain injuries, performance anxiety, and physical pain like carpal tunnel syndrome or back pain. The Alexander Technique can alleviate these issues by addressing misuse and overuse of the body and enhancing performance skills.
I teach a specific form of the Alexander Technique called Primal Alexander™, developed by my partner, Mio Morales. Unlike traditional methods that involve physical touch, I teach exclusively online and without relying on hands-on guidance. This approach empowers students from the start, as they learn to think differently and achieve results independently. By experimenting with their thoughts and movements, students quickly understand how to effect positive changes in their bodies, leading to faster learning and greater self-empowerment. This is, in fact, how Alexander himself made his own initial discoveries without the aid of another teacher’s hands-on touch, and how he taught others in the beginning.
Through The Art of Freedom® Method, I aim to share these insights and techniques with a broader audience, helping individuals overcome their barriers and achieve their fullest potential, whether they are musicians or anyone seeking a deeper connection between mind and body.
With your extensive experience as a violinist and teacher, how do you help musicians overcome performance anxiety and perfectionism to achieve a balanced and successful career?
I view performance anxiety and perfectionism as distinct yet intertwined issues, particularly prevalent among classical musicians. Growing up in a classical music family, I wanted a violin when I was two years old, and I understand the perfectionist tendencies that can develop in this environment. Classical music education often emphasizes structure and highly detailed critical thinking, focusing on identifying and correcting mistakes. This approach can create immense pressure on students, leading to performance anxiety.
With The Art of Freedom® Method, I empower my students to shift this perspective entirely. I believe that we are inherently designed to function optimally and that our bodies are beautifully perfect organisms. The Alexander Technique, which I incorporate into my method, is a subtraction method that helps identify and eliminate interference with our natural, optimal functioning.
In Primal Alexander™, a specific form of the technique developed by my partner Mio Morales, we start by focusing on what is already working well within the body. This involves a systematic, step-by-step process to identify areas of easing and flow in the present moment. By getting in touch with this intrinsic goodness, students can begin to apply these insights to their movements and daily activities for efficient and effortless movement.
For musicians, overcoming performance anxiety and perfectionism begins with recognizing and accessing what is working well within their systems. Once this foundational skill is established, they can gradually apply it to more complex activities, such as playing their instrument or performing on stage. This process involves continuous practice and reinforcement, making it easier to manage anxiety and perfectionist tendencies over time.
Most people are aware of their negative thought patterns, and with the specific skills I teach, it becomes relatively quick and easy to change these patterns. However, the challenge lies in remembering to apply this process consistently, especially during high-pressure situations like performances. Therefore, my method emphasizes regular practice and application in various contexts, gradually building up to more demanding scenarios.
Ultimately, The Art of Freedom® Method offers a clear, step-by-step approach to accessing and promoting a natural state of ease and flow. It is a gradual, yet straightforward and enjoyable process that empowers individuals to overcome performance anxiety and perfectionism, leading to more fulfilling and authentic performances.
What are some of the most common physical and mental obstacles musicians face, and how does your method help them transform these challenges into strengths?
There are several recurring themes I hear from my students and clients, one of which is the pervasive belief that “I’m not good enough” and that they will never meet the high expectations they place on themselves. This issue ties back to perfectionism and is not unique to musicians; it is a widespread human experience. I also work extensively with women, many of whom struggle with people-pleasing tendencies. In music education, this often manifests in the dynamic between students and their teachers, where the focus tends to be on identifying and correcting mistakes. This critical mindset fosters a need to please the teacher and meet expectations quickly.
We live in a goal-oriented culture that demands instant gratification. This pressure to achieve results swiftly is something Alexander termed “end-gaining,” where the emphasis is on reaching a specific goal—such as mastering a concerto—often at the expense of the process. This mentality can lead to anxiety and a sense of constant rushing, feeling as though there is never enough time.
To counter these negative beliefs and pressures, I introduce my students to three “magic phrases”:
“I am free.”
“I don’t have to do anything right now.”
“I have time and space.”
Exploring the meaning of these phrases helps musicians combat the typical negative beliefs and anxieties that arise, such as the fear of not being good enough. I refer to these doubts as the “Doubt Monsters.” Ultimately, I believe we all have one basic choice to make: to remain stuck in a self-protective, fear-based mentality or to become curious, willing to learn, and open to Love. These are two opposing attitudes: either we are open and loving, or we are trapped in a scarcity and fear-based mindset, which it the self-sabotaging obstacle that fuels performance anxiety.
I teach my students to connect with the loving essence within themselves first, and then to experiment with extending that openness to others, including their audiences and colleagues. Adopting a loving, open attitude may seem riskier and more difficult because it requires us to be vulnerable and feel things more deeply, but it makes navigating life significantly easier and more deeply fulfilling compared to a goal-oriented and competitive mentality. This shift not only alleviates performance anxiety but also fosters a more meaningful and authentic approach to music and life.
How do your private coaching and group programs differ in their approach and benefits?
I integrate three types of learning into the majority of my programs: one-on-one coaching, group sessions, and self-study courses. This multi-faceted approach ensures that students have various ways to engage with the material and receive support.
One-on-One Coaching: Personalized feedback and guidance are crucial for a student to absorb this approach and learn at an accelerated rate. My extensive training in Primal Alexander™ allows me to observe and assess my students effectively without the need to be in their physical presence. I typically offer at least one private coaching session even in primarily self-study programs to ensure that students are on the right track and to provide tailored feedback. This personal interaction helps address individual needs and challenges more precisely.
Group Sessions: Learning this material within a group context can be incredibly valuable, even though not everyone is initially inclined to participate. There’s a unique dynamic and energy in a group of people who share the same values and goals, and my programs offer an incredibly supportive and wonderful community of musicians from all over the world. When students come together to address issues like performance anxiety or physical discomfort, they create a safe, supportive environment. The group energy enhances individual learning and fosters a sense of community and shared growth. Practicing awareness techniques in a group setting amplifies the experience, making it even more powerful and transformative.
Self-Study Courses: These courses allow students to learn at their own pace, providing flexibility and autonomy. Self-study materials include videos, readings, and simple Awareness Etudes (studies) that students can complete at home. While this method offers the convenience of learning on one’s own schedule, I ensure it is complemented with opportunities for feedback, such as through the aforementioned private coaching sessions. This combination helps reinforce the material and ensures that students can clarify any doubts or issues they encounter during their self-study.
Encouraging students to take advantage of all three learning modalities simultaneously enriches their overall experience and greatly accelerates their progress. The integration of personal coaching, group support, and self-paced learning creates a comprehensive and effective approach to learning the Alexander Technique and addressing the specific challenges that musicians and others may face.
If you would like to find out more about Jennifer Roig-Francolí, please visit https://artoffreedom.me/
