The application of the Alexander technique to the teaching and performing of singing : a case study approach [Thesis ed.]

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THE APPLICATION OF THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE T0 THE TEACHING AND PERFORMING OF I

SINGING: ~

A CASE STUDY APPROACH

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Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for

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Master of ·Music at the University of Stellenbosch ···~

Supervisor: Miss Nellie du Toit · .

Submitted December . 1986

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Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za

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FREDERICK MATTHIAS ALEXANDER 1869

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Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za

THE F.M. ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE .•

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,. , ,, . TI:te~:A;!~x~i;i~~t T~S~£if!u~, ~s 1 ~n importa~t addi!ion ~o man's resources of self.:.awareness and personal educat10n. bstabhshed by F.M.Alexander (1869-1955) in the late 1890's, the Technique is valued in educational, theatrical and musical circles as a method of psycho-physical re-education. Lessons in the Technique help the pt1pil~ov.et§Pme'..'ifatterns of bodily mis-use that interfere with poise and free mo\'ement in all areas of activity. This encourages improved functioning, Cboth rphysicallf Cand •" psyclfofogica.ily' 'Viith attendant' .. benefits: in· ·c~ordination! health and well~b~eingf ' ' . •

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by' the· So.clety 'of tfeachers of . the F .M .Alexander Technique. ""'.,

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'bleed' in every performance: /

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!t s a matter of keeping your t

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The ideal is to create the illusion of tensicin

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stage without actaally becoming tense •.• But it is hard to -~

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just let it happen .•. how do you do that and not have your '1

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anxieties about whether you're going to make a top note · at the end or not?

How do you not prepare but stay completely'

1.. C. Grindea, Tensions in the Perfomence of MJsic, p.

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Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za

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Th~ ~ore tire~ !,go~~

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th~ 0 ~o~e,I.us~d

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my Alexander Technique,

and the more I started/get ting rid of tens-ion to keep up the .

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but J ~· s c;i ~.~tiapie

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s,cl!.e.d,y,le.. 1, I __ get

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m_ore ;s,~ng~r:~-. don-~ '~ .. do l i~ ~ :·, • ·We'~ re,-fightir.ig.agai~st .~ra~itY. .. continually. - gravity. is ,pulling us dowr;i ... .,.We' re always, falling ...

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into

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.and, the big,

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it affects our concept about everything ·~

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~~-:profound,

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·language to descr.ibe. this, reality, but it is the

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Y~I! ha~e ~h~~ . ~lex~~d~r ex~e~ie~c~. ~·

when

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the contrast of

.J.b,.e ter:ision, of ,pulling. against gravity.'.·:_ ~e -don '.h-.h-survey in~··1980 to

find :out to· what· ex.tent. 'teachers of;~.slnging~were using. the. Techriique·ana' how.they evaluated·±t.s.effects on their· pupils. [n~~-

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be

that c'ould

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singers she '.poirits'\out

d~rived::.

As·':the Alexander Studerit;·tiegihsC•to· discove'f'· for' himself 'what

hiS-habitua1· p'atterns'"'6f mov~fnent•are, :he can· m~l

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of enqufry. Alexander's own books are fastidi'ously detailed · explanations bt bot~ his'p~actice and. his. thea'fy ttiat~ar~ fasc~nating '

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reading for any student'of his Technique. In' additi~~' ~nthusiastic . ' ' ' ' - ' '' i Alexander Technique- students some eminent; some competent as writers,· some powerful,' some Just enthu~iastic fia\re :emerged '

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as adv6cates and

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~nt~rpreters

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hi~ writ~ng.and t~aching~

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Professor John Dewey, the eminent philosopher and educationalist, was one of.: Al~xahder' $ stUClents He w~i t'es ih the in't~oduction_ to Alexander's b6ok, The O~e of t~e Self: " ..

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