Matthew Jones is an internationally acclaimed violist and musicians’ health consultant. A native of Wales who lives in London, Matthew was 22 and a student at London’s Royal College of Music when a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) resulted in serious tendonitis. After postponing his studies he began to explore many avenues for recovery and to prevent recurrence of the injury. This journey of exploration led to teacher-training in Alexander Technique, yoga/meditation and performance wellness, in addition to experience and study of methods such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, massage, osteopathy, autogenic training, visualization and neuro-linguistic programming.
Matthew now divides his time between performing/recording, teaching viola/violin and chamber music and presenting seminars on performance health and enhancement, the Alexander Technique and yoga and their applications for musicians.  

In his parallel performing career as a soloist and chamber musician he has performed in recent years in venues such as Carnegie Hall and London’s Wigmore Hall, and recorded eleven CDs for labels including Naxos and Deux-Elles. He was also a member of the Badke Quartet when they won the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition and is a member of Ensemble MidtVest, an innovative chamber ensemble based in Denmark.

While in Tampa, Matthew will present a workshop on Alexander Technique and Kundalini Yoga and other wellness methods.   The two-day workshop will take place from 10 am-1 pm on April 9 and 10 at the Howard Johnson Plaza Tampa.  The event, titled "A Holistic Approach to Music-Making and Performance Health," is sponsored by the Florida Viola Society.  Musicians, singers, and dancers are welcome to attend, as well as non-musicians with overuse concerns or posture-related aches and pains, and those interested in health, relaxation, and general well being.