An Introduction to Body Mapping

Body Mapping is the method founded by William Conable, and developed by Barbara Conable, to help musicians consciously correct and refine their body maps so they can produce graceful, efficient, and coordinated movement and avoid pain, injury, or limitation in the playing of their instruments.

The body map is your representation of your body in your brain, and as with many maps, it can be inaccurate and missing important details, so developing an accurate and adequate map that allows you to play more musically with ease is essential to enjoying your music-making for a lifetime.

Violinist Ronald Mutchnik graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County summa cum laude, where he studied with Robert Gerle. While there, he won the Baltimore Music Club and Baltimore Musicians’ competitions. He earned his Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory, studying with Joseph Gingold and continued post-graduate studies at Tel Aviv University in Israel with Yair Kless.

He is active as an orchestral violinist, chamber musician, recitalist, and soloist and has served as Concertmaster of the Columbia Pro Cantare for over 30 years and with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra for 36 years. He has performed as soloist with numerous orchestras in Maryland, including the Columbia Orchestra and the Frederick Symphony and appeared in the film Washington Square, performing his own composition, and in concerts with Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, and was the concertmaster at Pat Sajack’s wedding in Annapolis. As a chamber musician he has appeared on many local series including Music in the Great Hall and An Die Musik.