By Kirsten A. LashbrookED 205

Concept MapBiography of Kirsten A. LashbrookAlexander TechniqueMatthias AlexanderWhat Did He Do?How Does it Work?Understanding SingingUsing the BodyVocal FoldsAlexander in ActionHow Does it Help Singing?Where AT is TaughtAlexander Technique PhotosBabies Know How to Do ItOther IdeasBenefits of Alexander TechniquePhysical Therapy and ATBooks about Alexander TechniqueSources

I am a Music Education major at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. I am majoring with an emphasis in vocal

music, at the secondary level. I have a keen interest in teaching at

a higher level of education and having my own studio. I have been involved in music since I was five, when I started playing the piano. I am also very interested in Music History and Music Theory. I plan

on attending grad school to get my masters in Vocal Music Performance after I graduate from Grand Valley in 2010.

lashbrok@student.gvsu.edu

Alexander Technique was designed by Matthias Alexander around 1890. It is a way of holding your body physically and mentally so everything is completely aligned and works with the body’s core. It is a popular study in vocal music, and singing incorporates the entire body.

Alexander was an Shakespearean orator, when after many performances continued to lose his voice. Doctors had no answer

as to why this was happening. While practicing his speeches, he watched

himself in mirrors so he could see what was happening physically. He found that he was tightening his entire body as he

was preparing to speak.

In observing others, he found that the tightening of the

torso was the main issue, because it

caused the neck to tighten as well,

cutting off a majority of the

voice.

The teacher uses verbal and hands-on assistance to

move and place the student’s body it different

ways. This could be something as simple as

adjusting the width of the legs while standing or how the head sits on top of the

neck. Once the body is properly adjusted, the

student can feel a consistent line through the

body.

Before learning and using AT, it is important that you know your instrument physically inside, so you know all the effects. As you exhale the larynx vibrates, and acts like a reed, similar to a clarinet. The position of the tongue, and the tightening or losing of the vocal chords aids in the changing of pitch. When inhaling, the diaphragm

should drop, or feel low, and when exhaling or singing, it should pull in, where the lower

abdominal is.

Singing is something that uses your entire body. Making sure your feet are flat on the

floor, one may be slightly ahead of the other, knees relaxed and slightly bent, you

will almost feel nailed to the floor. In singing, we are our own instrument, so we

need to know how to use it and how to properly take care of it, because we only

get one!

Watch this video to get a better idea of how Alexander Technique works!

As you can see in the examples, the skeleton on the left has a “scrunched” neck, and the head is pulled back underneath the top of the neck. The skeleton on the right, has a more open, elongated neck and the head appears to float on top of the neck. In return, this creates a more open airway, resulting in a better breath and more consistent breath, which produces a more consistent sound. And most importantly, helps prevent the risk of injury.

Alexander Technique is taught at many institutions globally in a regular classroom

setting. Some of those schools are The Julliard School of Performing Arts in New York, The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada, and The Royal College of Music in London, England. Other schools bring in AT specialists for Master Classes and Seminars. Other schools do not even

believe in adding it to the curriculum.

Check out the Alexander Technique website to see more

images and learn more!

Many doctors, singers, performers and educators who have studied AT have all found the same result: infants naturally use AT and use correct breathing “procedures”. For many singers, we have to relearn how to breath and hold their bodies, as babies do this naturally!

In one article I read about AT, Born to Sing, by Ron Murdock, suggests that the tensions that

are built up can be due to past traumatic experiences or lack of self confidence. If

someone is under the impression that they cannot sing, do not sing well, or has a great

deal of performance anxiety, they will become tense throughout the whole body. And AT is in some ways a form of Classical Conditioning to help the body adjust, relax, and realign, to

create a healthy and beautiful tone.

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Freer more comfortable movement

Relief from strain, pain, and tension.

Healthier breathing Better posture Increased strength Better performances

Alexander Technique can also be used in physical therapy or as an alternative to a chiropractor. It is mainly used for patients with posture and movement dysfunctions. AT is still fairly new to the physical therapy world, and has only been involved for about fourteen years. A few therapists have heard about it, but when AT is used, they bring in AT educators to work side by side with doctors and therapists.

www.alexandertechnique.com www.alexandercenter.com www.physicaltherapy.org www.training-classes.com www.medical-dictionary.com www.heatlywaymagazine.com Born to Sing by Ron Murdock