Body Mapping for Musicians
Reduce performance-related pain and tension and unlock expressive freedom through Body Mapping for all musicians
What is Body Mapping?
Body maps are self-representations that exist within the brain and govern our movements. They provide information about the structure, function, and size of our bodies.
When our maps are accurate to anatomical reality, movement is efficient, fluid, and easy. When maps are faulty or unclear movements in music-making can be awkward, limiting, or painful.
Through Body Mapping, we can refine our body maps to uncover greater freedom of movement, reduced tension, injury prevention, and greater expressive freedom. In addition, we learn to communicate more effectively as educators.
Body Mapping transformed my playing.
I first discovered the Alexander Technique and Body Mapping in 2011. After completing my first few weeks of study, my playing began to change in ways I hadn’t thought possible.
The tension and pain I experienced in my wrists, neck, and shoulders disappeared.
My breathing and tone improved dramatically, and for the first time, sounding how I wanted felt easy.
(I made the breath marks in Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream Scherzo for the first time once I properly mapped rib movement!)
This information changed not just how I play, but how I teach.
I became a Licensed Body Mapping Educator through the Association for Body Mapping Education in 2026, and I teach private Body Mapping lessons, workshops, and the ABME course What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body™ to all musicians.
“Jolene immediately addressed my pain issues and corrected my posture. After just one lesson, my flute sound had improved. Her lessons are so thorough and organized, and she has a marvelous "Skeleton man" to assist in understanding the importance of balance to acquire freedom to breathe and play expressively. I'm now playing better than I ever have in my life and enjoy my daily practice again, PAIN FREE. I accomplish more in less time during my daily practice but I'm now able to practice longer and enjoy it so much more. My tone is beautiful and getting better daily and technique is becoming easy and improving at a remarkable pace.”
— Wanda A.
The Association for Body Mapping Education Course:
What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body™
Section 1
Senses, Attention, and Mapping the Spine
Section 4
Mapping the Arms
Section 2
The Six Places of Balance
Section 5
The Structures and Movements of Breathing
Section 3
Mapping the Legs
Section 6
Integration / Body Mapping Masterclass
WEM 1:1
Accelerate your playing with a package of six lessons covering
the six sections of What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body™
in private lessons.
Online or in Austin/Leander, TX
This six-lesson program is perfect for you if…
You want a comprehensive overview of your physical foundation to ensure your map matches anatomical reality.
You’re ready to dive in immediately and don’t want to wait for a group course offering.
You want to add greater anatomical clarity and a clearer vocabulary to your teaching toolkit.
You want to apply the full WEM curriculum directly to your instrument while receiving immediate, personalized feedback.
You are dealing with multiple "roadblocks,” such as breathing restriction, shoulder pain, and tense technique.
Whether you're dealing with performance-related pain and tension or just feel like your technique has hit a ceiling, we’ll walk through all six sections of the Body Mapping curriculum together, tailored entirely to your unique body and instrument.
Ready to make pain and playing limitations a thing of the past?
1:1 Body Mapping Lessons
Private or small group body mapping lessons are available to all musicians as one-hour sessions.
(An initial 6 lessons are recommended)
Available virtually or in-person in Leander/Austin, TX
Body Mapping Workshops & WEM Course
I am available for Body Mapping workshops, including the full 6-hour course: What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body™ and happy to travel to your school or organization.