What are Hyung?
from The TaeKwon-Do Patterns Resource: Chon-Ji by Master Andrew Lesser

          The word “hyung” directly translates from the Korean as “pattern”. Another word for pattern in the TaeKwon-Do martial art is “tul”, pronounced “tuel”, or the Japanese “kata”. Hyung in essence are choreographed fighting routines that have titles significant in Korean history. This history is not limited to the martial arts, and ranges from military to scholarly and religious figures and concepts. There are 24 traditional patterns in TaeKwon-Do, one for each hour of the day and each with a significant theme and unique techniques.

          During one’s study of the martial arts, patterns serve multiple roles in the development of the martial artist. In the beginning stage, patterns are a means to practice techniques in a moving pattern, exercising simple moves to more advanced techniques as the student improves. As in performing a piece of music, the individual movements begin to take form in the larger whole, and the pattern begins to be performed more fluidly. In addition, the student begins to grasp the inner meaning of the pattern as an exercise in both body and mind, in which the art is perceived. Coordination of the body is not only improved, but clarity of mind and focus become apparent in the search for inner balance within ourselves. In the words of Master Hee Il Cho:

“By enacting various situations of confrontation through patterns,
we begin to understand the nature of conflict, and we begin to
learn how and when we can avoid it and what to do when we cannot”.[1] 

          The patterns can serve to better prepare the martial arts student for situations where combat is unavoidable, but perhaps the confidence gained by knowledge of the patterns can serve to prevent conflicts, as in this quotation from The Art of War:  

“Subjugating an enemy without fighting is the pinnacle of excellence”.[2]

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[1] Cho, Hee Il. The Complete Tae Kwon Do Hyung, Volume 1. Copyright by Master Hee Il Cho: Los Angeles, California, 1984.

[2] Tzu, Sun and Sawyer, Ralph, trans. The Art of War. Westville Press: Colorado, 1994.

Principle #1: Nobody can teach you as well as you can teach yourself. 

Principle #2: Merely listening to your teachers and completing their assignments is never enough.

Principle #3: Not everything you are assigned to read or asked to do is equally important. 

Principle #4: Grades are just subjective opinions. 

Principle #5: Making mistakes and occasionally appearing foolish is the price you pay for learning and improving. 

Principle #6: The point of a question is to get you to think – not simply to answer it. 

Principle #7: You’re in school to learn to think for yourself, not to repeat what your textbooks and teachers tell you. 

Principle #8: Subjects do not always seem interesting and relevant, but being actively engaged in learning them is better than being passively bored and not learning them. 

Principle #9: Few things are as potentially difficult, frustrating, or frightening as genuine learning, yet nothing is so rewarding and empowering. 

Principle #10: How well you do in school reflects your attitude and your method, not your ability. 

Principle #11: If you’re doing it for the grades or for the approval of others, you’re missing the satisfactions of the process and putting your self-esteem at the mercy of things outside your control. 

Principle #12: No smart student believes that learning takes place only in school. The reading and learning you do in your spare time makes you more receptive and inclined to learn in school. Reading stokes curiosity and motivates you to make connections to material covered in the classroom.

            Playing the clarinet effectively, as any other instrument, requires a heightened use of specific physical attributes not normally used in daily activities. Unfortunately, because we are usually so focused on listening to our sound and playing our best, we often neglect the maintenance and proper care of those same physical attributes we require to perform. As a result, potential damage may be caused over time which can conclude in career de-habilitating injuries. Two of the most common maladies affecting professional clarinetists are tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

            Both tendonitis and carpal tunnel are injuries of the hand and wrist, in severe cases causing playing to be extremely painful or impossible. These disorders are known as Musculoskeletal injuries, or MSI[1]. MSI is primarily caused by continued aggravated practices, rehearsals, or performances where constant pressure and strain are put on the affected muscles, in this case, the wrists and fingers. Musicians are second only to jobs requiring prolonged computer use as the highest risk for MSI[2]. The progression of pain during performance normally begins with irritation after practice, followed by pain during practice, and finally increasing until all aspects of daily life are affected. In severe cases, surgery may be the only course of action in repairing serious damage. Even so, scar tissue may form after surgery, severely limiting performing ability. Fortunately, steps may be taken to reduce the risk of MSI or repair damage if identified early. However, it is necessary to define these disorders to identify their causes and ultimate remedies.

            Tendonitis is defined as a disorder in which the tendons become inflamed and irritated for a variety of reasons. A tendon is a flexible, but tough, band of fibrous tissue which connects the muscles to the bones. When muscles contract in daily life, the tendons absorb the force of the muscle contraction to relieve pressure placed on the bone. In clarinet playing, the small tendons in the wrists and fingers serve to relieve the enormous pressure that each finger movement can create after extended playing. When the tendons become inflamed, finger and wrist movement then becomes painful. Thus, tendonitis literally means inflammation of the tendon[3].

            The most common cause of tendonitis is overuse. As musicians advance, the increased level of difficulty forces them to utilize the wrist and finger tendons at a faster pace. The tendons are unaccustomed to operating at the level of demand, and will eventually become inflamed and painful. Age is also a factor in tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. As we get older, the tendons lose their flexibility and ability to stretch as they used to. Individuals are more prone to experience symptoms of tendonitis and carpal tunnel with increasing age. An additional disorder similar to tendonitis named De Quervain’s Syndrome consists of pain in the tendons at the base of the thumb and on the thumb side of the forearm. This makes it extremely painful to twist the wrist or move the thumb away from the hand[4].

            Wrist tendonitis, also called tenosynovitis, is also a common disorder affecting the tendons, particularly the tendons around the wrist joint[5]. In addition to pain around the affected areas, swelling can also occur over the area of inflammation. Similar to De Quervain’s Syndrome, tenosynovitis can affect the tendon at the base of the thumb, causing pain whenever the thumb is moved away from the wrist. Tenosynovitis and De Quervain’s Syndrome are advanced cases of tendonitis, and require the immediate attention of a doctor or physical therapist. Immediate action can also be taken by icing the area with a cold pack, which stimulates blood flow to the inflamed area. Other treatments for mild or early cases of tendonitis are similar with carpal tunnel syndrome; several of which are listed below.

            Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is related to tendonitis because they are caused by aggravated pressure in the hands and wrists, but carpal tunnel syndrome has distinct differences from tendonitis or related disorders. The carpel tunnel is a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand[6]. This surrounds the median nerve, which runs directly from the forearm into the hand. The median nerve controls the receptors to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, which allow the fingers and thumb to move easily and smoothly. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is squeezed or pressed at the wrist. Swelling from irritated tendons can also be a factor in the compression of the nerve, such as in a previous injury or trauma. Carpal tunnel syndrome, however, is not caused by tendonitis or vice-versa. They are completely separate disorders and have individual symptoms; however, proper diagnosis from a licensed professional should be sought immediately after experiencing any reoccurring painful sensations in the wrists and hands. 

            Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by a variety of sources, including genetic disposition. The carpal tunnel may simply be smaller in certain individuals, placing them at higher risk. Carpal tunnel syndrome also usually occurs only in adults. Women are also more likely to experience carpal tunnel syndrome than men because the carpel tunnel itself is in most cases smaller than in men[7]. There is no clinical proof that correlates the heavy use of the hands and wrists in playing to carpal tunnel syndrome. These actions usually result in tendonitis or the similar disorders mentioned earlier. However, other causes of carpal tunnel can include prior strain or trauma to the affected areas, fluid retention, joint or mechanical problems in the wrist, work stress, or the development of a cyst or tumor in the carpal tunnel. In some cases, no cause can be identified[8].

            Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually start gradually in the hand and fingers, including a burning sensation in addition to tingling or numbness in these areas. These symptoms usually appear in one or both hands at night, but can increase during the day with increased discomfort. Decreased grip strength, such as the inability to hold the clarinet, is also a common symptom. Physicians can detect carpal tunnel syndrome in its initial stages, in which several forms of treatment are available.

            Treatment for tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and related disorders can be treated by the individual if discovered early. Of course, preventative measures can be taken to reduce the risk of injury, or further aggravate an existing injury. However, seeking the direction of a medical professional should be considered before any other options. Illustrated below are several techniques to lessen the risk of tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome: 

-  Exercise

Exercise before and after heavy practice is beneficial to maintaining healthy joints and muscles. Taking frequent rest breaks can also serve to relax the tendons and prevent them from becoming inflamed. Remember to keep a natural posture whether playing standing up or sitting down.

- Heat and Ice

Using ice and heat packs are helpful in relaxing and cooling off muscles. These packs can also stimulate blood flow and decrease swelling. It is important to proceed only with a doctor’s recommendation if pain is already constant

 - Stretching

 Stretching is the primary deterrent to future injuries in the joints. Stretching exercises that are performed constantly before and after practice can serve to effectively prevent injuries caused by overuse and constant pressure on the tendons.

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[1] Musicians and MSI: Symptoms and types of Injuries. Safety and Health in Arts Production and Entertainment (SHAPE), p. 1.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Your Guide to Orthopedics. Cluett, Jonathan. p. 1.
[4] Ibid, p. 2.
5] Ibid, p. 3.
[6] Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. National Institute of Neurological Disorders. p. 1.
[7] Ibid, p. 2.
[8] Ibid, p. 2.

Andrew Lesser has now been included on the Wind Repertory Project composer page! The Wind Repertory Project™ is a comprehensive database of wind literature, expanded by contributions of band directors/conductors, students, and wind band enthusiasts worldwide.

The WRP was originally envisioned as a dissertation comprising a listing of wind repertory information along the lines of the excellent Orchestral Music: A Handbook by David Daniels. When the tremendous scope of the project became apparent, a decision was made to postpone creating the database until there was time to implement it in an online format, freely available to everyone.

Have a look at http://www.windrep.org/!

I love this video clip of Professor Jack Stamp speaking about Why Music Matters. Jack Stamp (b. 1954) is the Professor of Music and Director of Band Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band and teaches courses in undergraduate and graduate conducting.

He is active as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and composer throughout North America and Great Britain. His compositions have been commissioned and performed by leading military and university bands across the United States. He is also a contributing author to the “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band” series.

Enjoy!

BE IN TUNE WITH YOUR BODY!

Regardless of our varied disciplines as music educators, including both our specializations and our grade level of instruction, we all recognize the highest priority in our lives is our fundamental quality of physical health. It goes without saying that without good health, it quickly becomes impossible to perform our daily functions as educators, let alone anything else! We’ve all heard the disturbing statistics of rising cases of obesity in both children and adults, or that obesity is one of the leading causes of heart disease. In addition, we’ve all been exposed to the wide range of benefits that promoting good physical health can bring, including a dramatic reduction of emotional and mental stress, a higher developed sense of confidence and pride, and an increase in energy and endurance that is essential to our field of music education. But one needs not be obese, or in any other immediate danger of deteriorating health to recognize the imperative to develop a regiment of proper fitness in our lives. In fact, all educators in positions that require physical work (of which music is a certainty!) should develop a lifestyle that promotes healthy choices and staying in shape. 

Lifestyle?

First, we must understand that promoting good physical health means to look further than the goal of achieving your desired weight, or how many miles you’d like to walk without getting winded. True, short term goals are important for laying out a structured plan, but once those goals are accomplished, then what? For many people who desire to lose weight, they go on a diet. They change their entire eating habits, much to their own chagrin, or even join a gym for a limited time. The problem with this approach is that once that person accomplishes their desired level of physical health, everything goes right back to the way it was. The previous eating habits resume, the gym membership expires, and then it’s only a matter of time until the weight comes back or more serious health problems emerge. I dislike the term “diet” because it implies a temporary change of lifestyle that will eventually return once the goal has been reached. Instead of continuing the downward spiral back and forth between weight gain and weight loss (which in itself can create serious bodily stress), why don’t we develop the goal to continuously maintain our good health once our short term goals have been reached? Why don’t we develop a lifestyle that keeps the weight off and gives us the energy and endurance to teach to our highest potential? 

The Fitness Triangle 

Before I became a music teacher, I used to manage a New York Sports Club fitness center in Princeton, NJ. Having more than twenty years of experience in the martial arts prior to this, I believed I knew everything there was to know about good health. I had endurance, flexibility, strength, and a confidence that transcended into all my endeavors. But when I accepted the position of a high school music director, I quickly found that my healthy habits were becoming less of a priority as I put all of my energy into creating a successful program for my students. Soon, my stress level was rising, I was gaining weight, and I was spending less and less time focusing on my personal health as I was on my job. It wasn’t until one day where I went to my normal karate class and found I did not have the energy to keep up with my own students that I realized my habits needed to change. Fortunately, I remembered my many conversations with the personal trainers of my former gym, and their philosophies regarding what I call the “fitness triangle”.

The fitness triangle consists of the three primary aspects of staying in shape, which are cardiovascular training, strength training, and dietary habits. Cardiovascular exercises are anything that increases the flow of your circulatory system. Exercises that increase heart rate and cause perspiration can help burn calories, which reduce fat, and increases endurance and breath control. Proper cardiovascular exercise is a leading deterrent against heart disease and circulatory problems. Doing things like taking a long walk, jumping jacks, running, and playing sports that require constant movement such as tennis, basketball, or swimming all enhance the cardiovascular system. Taking aerobics classes, martial arts, or kickboxing are all excellent ways to get your blood pumping and energized.

Strength training involves the building of muscle to replace fat, creating stronger, healthier tissue, and will also lower blood pressure. It also offsets the normal loss of muscle from aging, and protects against injury by building stronger bones. Other positive benefits from strength training include anti-depression, loss of back pain, and lowering the risk for kidney disease, stroke, and cancer. Strength training can be separated into two separate concepts: weight training and resistance training. Training with weights can be as simple as lifting a dumbbell or performing a bench press. There are innumerable exercises for each individual muscle, so if one exercise is too difficult or complicated, don’t get discouraged. The best way to learn how to properly train with weights is to join a local gym and get a tutorial from a personal trainer. Most gyms offer an introductory service for free with a membership. Resistance training is very similar to weight training except that you are contracting against the weight of another object. That object could be a weight, such as a dumbbell or medicine ball, but it could also be the weight of our own bodies. Push-up, sit-ups, chin-ups, and leg lifts are just a few examples of resistance training that you can do without any extra equipment.

The final and most important aspect of the fitness triangle is the way we eat. Like putting the right kind of fuel in our cars, it doesn’t matter if we have a Ferrari or a station wagon, it won’t go anywhere unless it has the right fuel. The great thing about the dietary part of the triangle is that it’s simple to understand which foods to choose that are high in vitamins and nutrition. In fact, the dietary aspect of the fitness triangle accounts for about 80% in total importance. Like I said before, you can outfit your car with the best engine, sound system, and accessories, but it won’t go anywhere unless it has a full tank of fuel. Some foods that are high in protein, vitamins, antioxidants, and low in fat and cholesterol include almonds, vegetables like beans and peas, fat-free dairy products, eggs, turkey, tuna, berries, and whole grain products. This is not to say you have to eliminate things like cheeseburgers, cheesesteaks, desserts, and other good stuff from your diet. It just means that you have to balance these foods with the foods that will help to burn fat and build muscle. Replacing soda with water, for example, is a great start. Bringing a healthy lunch to work instead of hitting the McDonald’s drive through is an excellent way to change to a healthier lifestyle. For more information, I suggest reading up on the latest nutritional tips on the internet, or read The Abs Diet, or The Abs Diet for Women by David Zinczenko.       

But I Don’t Have The Time! 

Haven’t we all heard that from at least one student when we ask them how long they’ve practiced in a particular week? And our answer is usually the same: “If you can find the time to spend hours on video games, Facebook, or texting your friends, surely you can spend more time practicing your concert material!” Now granted, the situation is not exactly the same (hopefully!) when we consider music educators teaching a variety of subjects and balancing a home, family, and social life all at once. I have had the experience of teaching Choir, Concert Band, Marching Band, Music Theory, Jazz, and running a Music Booster Organization, in addition to finding time to compose, practice my clarinet and saxophone, and having an active social life. And yes, sometimes it can get quite exhausting. However, we need to understand that without prioritizing our own physical health, we risk losing the very thing that allows us to multitask and run at 100% every week.

During my time managing the New York Sports Clubs fitness center, I interviewed numerous personal trainers in what they believed was an adequate fitness schedule that would both build muscle, trim fat, and promote good cardiovascular health. They informed me that for the strength training aspect of the fitness triangle, only about 2 hours a week was necessary to maintain one’s current condition, with a 30 minute focus on abdominal muscles. Only 2-3 hours a week were needed for cardiovascular training, which could be easily accomplished by taking a brisk walk for an hour three times a week. As for the diet, again noted as the most important aspect of the fitness triangle, that takes a bit more time to adjust to. David Zinczenko, editor of Men’s Health Magazine and author of “The Abs Diet”, refers to dietary habits as the most important part of a balanced fitness lifestyle, understanding once again that the general definition of “diet” is something temporary that you use to lose weight, in which after you gain the desired results, you start back on your normal eating habits (and the cycle begins anew!).

Having the commitment to losing weight and improving your health isn’t something you think about when you stand on the scale and realize “it’s time to go on that diet”. Instead, we should be continuing to maintain our health especially after we have reached our ideal weight. That way, the weight will stay off, we’ll be consistently healthy, and we’ll all feel better physical and mentality. 

So What Can I Do Right Now?

You don’t have to join a gym, hire a personal trainer, nutritionist, or buy tons of DVD’s of Tae-Bo, P90X, or watch The Biggest Loser. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with doing any of those things. After all, you really can’t put a price tag on health when it comes to your own. The first step is the same thing we say to students who are just beginning an instrument: just start playing! Get outside and take a walk, get on the internet and research healthy foods, subscribe to a fitness magazine and practice the exercises, play a sport, anything that gets you up and moving. There is a wealth of materials out there that can help point you in the right direction. Joining a gym and scheduling time with an accredited personal trainer is one of the best ways to start getting in shape and learn how to keep yourself there on your own. When it comes down to it, the primary factor for creating healthy habits is our own motivation. Only we can decide what we want to do with the body we’ve been given, and just like an instrument, it will take care of us if we only return the favor.

As a founding member of the 3rd Annual New Jersey Young Composers Competition, I am proud to announce our finalists have been chosen for the 2011 competition! The winning entries will be announced at our seminar, hosted by Bob Frampton, at the NJMEA Convention on February 24-26 at the New Brunswick Hilton and Towers. You can listen to the finalists from last year competition at www.njmea.org and click the tab marked “Audio”. Good luck to all the finalists and I look forward to seeing you in February!

Clarinet, Saxophone, and Music Theory lessons are now available for all interested students! Whether you’re a experienced performer looking to increase your ability, or someone just wanting to try it out for the first time, I’m happy to help you achieve your goals. All ages and ability levels are welcome to a FREE 30-Minute Introductory Lesson,  located just off Rt. 73 in Moorestown. Call 609-707-2465 or e-mail andrew.lesser@yahoo.com to set up your FREE Introductory Lesson!

“Nothing is impossible to a willing mind”   – Andrew Lesser

Looking for a great piece to fill out your Winter Concert this season! Check out Snow Through a Window, available now through Kjos. com!

http://www.kjos.com/detail.php?table=author&auth_id=1616

Greetings! I hope you are all ready for the new school year with instruments in hand. I have an exciting announcement to make. As of September 1st, I will be taking up my new position as Music Instructor in the Haddon Heights School District. Among my duties will include running the Instrumental Music Department in three elementary schools, in addition to teaching classes at Haddon Heights High School. I am very excited to be a part of the Haddon Heights School District, and I will keep you updated to upcoming performances and news.

All the best,
Andrew