Help Us Tell the Story
in the new Documentary Film
Amid a world-wide epidemic of musicians losing their careers from playing-related injuries, one remarkable woman’s vision saves thousands of musicians' vocations by showing them the truth about their bodies and their brains.
Photo Credit: Claire Stefani, LBME
ABME has partnered with Canadian Film Company, Music Moves Productions, headed by Licensed Body Mapping Educator and noted author, Jennifer Johnson to raise money to fund the making of this documentary film. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.
Did you study with Barbara Conable?
Was your career saved?
Was your life transformed?
Please consider donating to help this film become a reality.
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ABME is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Donations may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax adviser.
Jennifer Johnson's story:
Sharing an extraordinary woman's brilliant contribution to the lives and careers of musicians is the driving force behind this documentary. As an injured professional violinist (former Principal 2nd Violinist of the NSO) in 2004, I was lucky to have met and studied with the legendary Barbara Conable right before her retirement. Her remarkable discoveries saved not only my career, but also the careers of thousands of other musicians all around the world.
The film outlines Barbara's discoveries beginning with her observation that musicians are moving in ways for hours every day, that run counter to their actual anatomical design and that this accounts for the surprisingly high percentage of musicians who play in pain and injury. The success rate that Barbara had in getting musicians past their injuries and playing better than ever before is based on her movement re-education approach called Body Mapping. This somatic modality uses anatomical models and images to correct the misconceptions musicians fall prey to from our culture and traditional music pedagogy teachings.
During interviews with Barbara, she reveals some of her discoveries, leaving the viewer wondering why something so logical and essential to musicians' everyday health, happiness and ease has not become mainstream by now. My own story of injury, my mentorship with Barbara, and my subsequent recovery begins the film. The amusing and serendipitous story of how Barbara impressed one of America's leading neurophysiologists, (and amateur flute player) Dr. Richard Nichols, and inspired him to become a part of her efforts in saving musicians' careers will be told firsthand by both Barbara and Richard from their unique perspectives.
These primary storylines are supported by an international cast of musicians and their tales of injury, heartbreak, revelation and recovery. Footage of performances of these world-class musicians of all genres, pre and post-recovery, is woven throughout the documentary to make both a compelling story and a riveting sound-track. The film leaves us questioning why dental hygienists, construction workers and weekend athletes couldn't all improve their skills and prevent injury by getting more curious about their own body's design to move.