Malva, Benjamin's mom

As a young violinist, I developed severe tendinitis that was specific to my violin-playing activities. In rehabilitating myself from injury, I spent several years experimenting with ergonomic principles and developing mental practice techniques; I found that a synergistic combination of these two approaches fosters efficiency and effectiveness in violin playing—and indeed, in the pursuit of any physical skill.

Freymuth, Malva “Rest Easy.” The Strad. Vol. 114, No. 1360 The Strad 2003.pdf 3.8 MB (August 2003): 850-855

Freymuth, Malva “Give Your Students Security and Comfort.” American Suzuki Journal. Vol. 30, No. 4 (2002): 59-62.

Freymuth, Malva “Question/Answer Column.” Strings. Vol. 11, Strings 1997.pdf 13.7 KB No. 5 (Jan./Feb. 1997): 24-25

Freymuth, Malva “Mental Practice: Some Guidelines for Musicians.” AMT 1994.pdf 8.3 MB American Music Teacher. (April-May 1994): 18-21 

Freymuth, Malva “Mental Practice for Musicians: Theory and Application.” Article for MPPA.pdf 30.7 KB Medical Problems of Performing Artists. Vol. 8, No. 4 (December 1993): 141-143 

     My horse, Orion, and I were training at the Intermediare II level of dressage when we had to retire due to arthritic changes in Orion's leg joints. As a team, we earned the U.S. Dressage Federation’s bronze and silver medals, and also the U.S.D.F. bronze and silver freestyle bars. We had several qualifying scores towards the U.S.D.F. gold medal when retiring from competition in 2013.

     Although we became champions together, Orion and I had a turbulent first year, with an interestingly fateful twist. Read the 4-page story below.