Every month, contributor Robert Cohen offers insight about the life and work of a touring classical musician for our On That Note series. This month, Cohen spoke with Lake Effect's Bonnie North about what aging means for a professional performer.
As people age, they naturally need to adapt their bodies. Cohen says that as a musician, he has always been precisely aware of how his body is positioned and moving. But that these days, carrying his cello is not getting any easier.
"I had to be more economical with my strength, and more focused and more knowledgeable about how to put things in the right place at the right time so that I wasn't wasting my energy that probably I had to waste when I was in my 20s," Cohen says.
When he started to experience aches and pains after running, he met with a Pilates instructor who advised him to focus on building core strength. He says that similar to playing the cello, it made sense to start with the foundation.
“It’s not going to be the same for everyone,” notes Cohen. “It’s such a personal road to the right strength and health and fitness.”
