Final Paper

 

 

Finding My Sound: A Musician’s Journey Through Body and Breath

Seongwoo Jeong

This course was not an ordinary class, I requested it specially, and I’m very glad that I did. At first it began because I was short one credit and also because Dr. Jorge recommended it, but the 1:1 lesson turned out to be much more important than I had expected. As a musician, I learned to listen to the sound coming from my own body, to sense what is lacking, and to understand how I can improve myself.

The class was based on the book *You Are Your Instrument: The Definitive Musician’s Guide to Practice and Performance* by Julie Lyonn Lieberman, with the aim of helping instrumentalists grow both physically and mentally. After reading and understanding the theory from the text, we followed a 15 - 20 minute “Full Body Workout for Musicians” video to train our bodies.

The curriculum began with basic physical training focused on stamina and lower-body strength. From the fourth week, we expanded to full-body exercises, and during the last two weeks we practiced stretching and internal balance work, combining movement with rest and mindful awareness. What made this class special was not only the physical training, but also the individualized coaching I received through 1:1session, and the opportunity to learn both theory and practice based on a well‑established guide for musicians.

Although I still lack strength, flexibility, and internal balance, this special project taught me something deeper than just “becoming physically better.” I learned what I lack, which aspects I need to refine, and that maintaining my body consistently is a path toward a better future self. I am deeply grateful to my professors for teaching me and making time for me.