F.M.: The Life Of Frederick Matthias Alexander

Author: Michael Bloch
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 1405513616
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 363

Book Description
The Alexander Technique is a method of muscular re-education, which has become standard training for actors, dancers and singers, and is practised for health reasons all over the world. Its founder, Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955), was an Australian actor who stumbled upon it in the 1890s after studying himself in mirrors to discover why he had lost his voice. He realised that most people suffered from the same postural defects he had noticed in himself, and that this explained much of what went wrong with them. F.M. (as he was known) came to London in 1904 and became enormously successful. During the First World War he practised in America with equal success, converting the American philosopher John Dewey to his cause. He wrote four books (all still in print), and his supporters included Aldous Huxley, George Bernard Shaw and Stafford Cripps. He was, however, a difficult and argumentative man who made enemies. Towards the end of his life he embarked on a libel action against the South African government, which had accused him of charlatanism. He won, and went on practising and propagating his technique until his death aged 86.

The Alexander Technique

Author: Frederick Matthias Alexander
Publisher: Lyle Stuart
ISBN: 9780818405068
Category : Alexander technique
Languages : en
Pages : 260

Book Description
"This book presents selected writings of famous Australian F. Matthias Alexander, now recognized as the twentieth-century pioneer of body-mind coordination."--Back cover.

The Use Of The Self

Author: F.M. Alexander
Publisher: Spring
ISBN: 9781409182955
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
The world famous classic by the originator of the Alexander Technique, with a new perspective by Anthony Kingsley. Frederick Matthias Alexander was born in Tasmania in 1869. In his twenties, he became a professional reciter of dramatic pieces. After almost completely losing his voice he pioneered a method of improving the 'use' of his body musculature in all positions and movements and cured his vocal problems without medical aid. Alexander then realised that most people stood, sat and moved in a defective manner and that incorrect 'use of the self' might be the cause of much human suffering. He moved to London and established a school, publishing several books and achieving success, with recommendations from famous contemporaries such as Aldous Huxley and Sir Stafford Cripps. Alexander died in 1955 but his 'principle' lives on through the work of many teachers of his method.

Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual

Author: Frederick Matthias Alexander
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Alexander technique
Languages : en
Pages : 372

Book Description

Man's Supreme Inheritance

Author: Frederick Matthias Alexander
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Alexander technique
Languages : en
Pages : 372

Book Description

Body Learning

Author: Michael Gelb
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 9780805042061
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 196

Book Description
"The Alexander Technique is now recognized the world over as the most revolutionary and far-reaching method developed for maintaining the health and efficiency of the body."--Back cover

F.M.: The Life Of Frederick Matthias Alexander

Author: Michael Bloch
Publisher: Abacus
ISBN: 1405513616
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 363

Indirect Procedures

Author: Pedro de Alcantara
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199874824
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 272

Book Description
A musician's life is filled with many stressful situations: passing auditions, rehearsing and performing with difficult partners, sitting for long hours in uncomfortable chairs, going on stage to face audiences large and small, who may or may not be receptive to the performance they are presented. And yet many musicians are able to surmount these looming obstacles with grace and balance, to find satisfaction and artistry in their music and build productive and lasting careers. Indirect Procedures will guide you around these obstacles and along that path to becoming a balanced and successful musician. Based on the work of Frederick Matthias Alexander, this book is a thorough and practical approach to the issues of musicians' health and wellbeing. Author Pedro de Alcantara introduces concepts and exercises for musicians to let go of excessive tensions, stay focused, and direct their energies as they handle the challenges of practicing, rehearsing, and performing. Complemented by an extensive, easy-to-use companion website, and working alongside Integrated Practice, this new edition of Indirect Procedures is an invaluable and essential resource for today's musicians to learn to sing, play, and conduct with less effort and stronger results.

Up from Down Under

Author: Rosslyn McLeod
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780646195681
Category : Alexander technique
Languages : en
Pages : 104

Book Description
Alexander was the inventor of a noted breathing technique for speaking and singing, and is listed in the '1988 Bicentenary Book' as one of the '200 people who made Australia great'. The book gives Australian historical background to his family, life story and teaching, with testimonials from notable people helped by his work, and a bibliography. The author is a musician who teaches the Alexander technique.

The Alexander Technique for Musicians

Author: Judith Kleinman
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408176831
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 410

Book Description
The Alexander Technique for Musicians is a unique guide for all musicians, providing a practical, informative approach to being a successful and comfortable performer. Perfect as an introduction to the Alexander Technique, or to supplement the reader's lessons, the book looks at daily and last-minute practice, breathing, performance and performance anxiety, teacher–pupil relationships, ensemble skills, and the application of the Alexander Technique to instrumental and vocal work. Complete with diagrams and photographs to aid the learning process, as well as step-by-step procedures and diary entries written by participating students, The Alexander Technique for Musicians gives tried-and-tested advice, drawn from the authors' twenty-plus years of experience working with musicians, providing an essential handbook for musicians seeking the most from themselves and their art.