# Soulforce Arts Institute > Alexander Technique education for musicians — helping performers release habitual tension, relieve playing-related pain and injury, quiet performance anxiety, and play with ease. Founded and taught by Joseph Arnold: violinist, certified Alexander Technique teacher, and award-winning author. Soulforce Arts Institute teaches musicians the **skill of ease**. Its central idea: tension is not a fixed trait or a strength/flexibility problem — it is a *coordination habit* learned alongside technique, and anything learned can be taught in reverse. "Just relax" doesn't work, because a command to the body is the very thing that tightens it; stretching and strengthening treat symptoms, not the cause. Ease is a specific, teachable skill. Joseph Arnold trained at the Philadelphia School for the Alexander Technique, was certified in 2012 (ATI), and stayed on as an **assistant teacher-trainer for eight years** — so he has not only done this work but taught others how to teach it. He has helped hundreds of musicians, is a working violinist (fifteen years with the Hot Club of Philadelphia), and is the author of *Soulforce*, winner of the 2024 NYC Big Book Award and a finalist for the Eric Hoffer and National Indie Excellence Awards. This is the same work trusted at Juilliard, Boston Conservatory, and the Royal College. ## Programs and offerings - [The Musician's Tension Reset Lab](https://www.soulforcearts.com/tensionreset/): A **free** live online lab (on Zoom) where musicians experience Alexander Technique and learn to release habitual tension in real time with their instrument. For string, piano, voice, wind, and guitar players. Teachers welcome. - [Violinist Setup Class](https://www.soulforcearts.com/setup/): free 45-minute on-demand class on setting up a shoulder rest for violin/viola around a free body - [Perform Without Pain](https://www.soulforcearts.com/pwp/): An 8-week program for committed musicians dealing with pain, tension, or injury that's limiting their playing. Two ways in: a group program ($497) or group plus four private coaching sessions ($997). Cohorts open quarterly and fill from a waiting list. Teaches 20+ mind-body techniques, the Magic Pause, and how to relieve musician's injuries without exercises, stretching, or surgery. - [Your Body Is Your Instrument](https://www.soulforcearts.com/ybiyi/): A self-paced online Alexander Technique video course for musicians — ten lessons to play with ease and release tension. $149 (videos only) or $199 (course plus a private lesson). - [For Music Teachers](https://www.soulforcearts.com/teachers/): A teacher track of Perform Without Pain. Music teachers relieve their own tension, gain concrete tools to teach ease to their students (not just themselves), and earn a certificate of completion plus professional-development hours toward certification. Group/association discounts available (e.g. MTNA chapters, school districts); Act 48 credit for PA educators is in progress. - [The Soulforce Arts Studio](https://www.soulforcearts.com/studio/): An ongoing weekly online circle — a short lesson or meditation, then open Q&A and masterclass — for musicians who want the work to keep deepening. $197/month founding rate. - [The Try-Harder Trap](https://www.soulforcearts.com/trap/): A 45-minute on-demand class on why trying harder makes tension worse and what actually changes it. Coming soon. - [Soulforce — the book](https://www.soulforcearts.com/book/): Joseph Arnold's award-winning book for artists and musicians who want their creativity to make a real difference. A free first chapter is available. ## About - [About Joseph Arnold](https://www.soulforcearts.com/about/): Violinist, certified Alexander Technique teacher (ATI, 2012), eight years as an assistant teacher-trainer at the Philadelphia School for the Alexander Technique, award-winning author, and director of the Soulforce Arts Institute. ## Core concepts taught - Tension is a coordination habit learned alongside technique — and it can be un-learned. - "Just relax" fails; ease is a specific skill you can implement immediately. - Stretching and strengthening won't fix it — the habit underneath your playing keeps the pain coming back. - The Magic Pause: the simplest tool for releasing tension in the middle of playing, on any instrument. - The critical moment: the half-second that decides whether you tighten. - Thing-mode vs. being-mode: two ways of playing, and why one quietly hurts. - An 80–90% reduction in pain and tension over eight weeks is realistic. ## Contact - Email: joseph@soulforcearts.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulforcearts/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soulforcearts - Substack: https://substack.com/@soulforcearts ## Blog Essays by Joseph Arnold on the Alexander Technique, artistry, performance, and the inner craft of music-making. Full archive of 160+ posts (2018-2026). - [Blog index](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/): all essays, newest first - [Topics](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/topics/): browse by theme Recent essays: - [100 Days of Soulforce - Day 1 - "What is Soulforce Artistry"?](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/100-days-of-soulforce-day-1-what-is-soulforce-artistry/) - [3 Misconceptions About Stretching, and How The Alexander Technique Can Help](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/3-misconceptions-about-stretching-and-how-the-alexander-technique-can-help/) - [4 Methods for Playing Fast, Effortlessly! - 100 Days of Soulforce #25](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/4-methods-for-playing-fast-effortlessly-100-days-of-soulforce-25/) - ["A Dark Waltz" - A new song I wrote](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/a-dark-waltz-a-new-song-i-wrote/) - [A List of 20+ Surprising Benefits of Releasing Excess Muscle Tension for Musicians](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/a-list-of-20-surprising-benefits-of-releasing-excess-muscle-tension-for-musicians/) - [A Powerful Mindset Shift for When You Don't Have Time or Motivation to Practice](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/a-powerful-mindset-shift-for-when-you-dont-have-time-or-motivation-to-practice/) - [A Story of Artistic Purpose](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/a-story-of-artistic-purpose/) - [Why I'm Offering Alexander Technique Lessons at a 90% Discount](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/alexander-technique-discount/) - [Appearance on PMEA “Take Note” Podcast](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/appearance-on-pmea-take-note-podcast/) - [Art as a Consciousness Escalator](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/art-as-a-consciousness-escalator/) - [Art in the Space Between Stories | Soulforce Letter](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/art-in-the-space-between-stories-soulforce-letter/) - [Art & Money: Rotten Fruit? Plus, Invitation to Roundtable](https://www.soulforcearts.com/blog/art-money-rotten-fruit-plus-invitation-to-roundtable/)