In the lessons the focus is on:

• Learning to identify the very first signs of tension
• Learning to keep a small space in your head free to pick up these signals
• React immediately with an exercise to put the finger on what and why
• While doing the exercise responding with exhaling and reducing your tempo

(N.B. this is by far the most difficult part of the procedure. Apparently, once you have established your own sound and tempo to a given piece, it is extremely difficult to deviate from it, even if only for a short time)

About practicing and injuries:

An injury is always preceded by a period during which physical signs of a problem are ignored or, when they are recognized, by not knowing what to do.

There might be a mental warning, brought about by thoughts or emotions or a physical symptom caused by repetition of a movement which is not right for you, or caused by poor posture.

The cause may not have seemed significant in itself and therefore the first indication of a problem might be barely noticeable: a note does not sound quite right and that causes annoyance, or a fragment in a given sequence is not working for you.  This is normal when practicing a piece.  It is however important to learn to recognize the signals because if they are ignored, you are heading for an injury by repeating and confirming a flawed pattern of study.

Forming a mental pattern can be compared with the way in which a path gradually forms across a field when the same route is taken repeatedly. Every time the path is trod, the track becomes more deeply entrenched. Once the path has been clearly established then (unconsciously) it is the obvious path to follow. Unless you consciously and deliberately choose to take a different path, you will always take the same path.

The Integrated Practice System will help you to discover the technique which works best for you. Your performance will benefit as well as the ease with which you play. You will also discover that your practice is more effective and produces faster results.

When the method is correctly applied, you will no longer run the risk of an injury.