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Course Outline
The
course is based on 530 class hours per years (1600 in total). With a
teacher-student ratio of at least 1-5 students are assured of considerable
individual attention on a daily basis. In addition, trainees
are required to complete at least 8 hours of study - applying the Technique
in daily activities, reading, etc. - each week.
 | Year 1 - Training focuses on individual trainee's
learning, to improve his or her own self-awareness and manner of use.
This is an indispensable pre-requisite for teaching an improved use of the
self to others. Short, one-to-one "turns" (mini-lessons) are the
basis of the practical training, together with working in small groups.
Alongside this, there is study of the written works of F M Alexander and
other related literature, and of relevant anatomy and physiology, etc.
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| Year 2 - The second year focuses more on developing the
refined manual skills and psycho-physical procedures used in teaching the
Alexander Technique. Considerable class hours are required to
develop in the trainee the acute sensitivity of hand contact required.
Concurrently there is further study of related topics to give the trainees
sufficient knowledge to understand the intellectual and scientific
concepts underlying the work.
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| Year 3: The final year focuses on the
practical aspects of Alexander teaching. The trainee progresses from
practising on colleagues to supervised practice with people from outside
the course. The habits of disciplined self-awareness developed in the
first two years are put to the test in this situation, as the trainees
must maintain a satisfactory standard in the use of themselves if they are
to have the sensitivity required to help a new pupil. Development of
verbal teaching instruction and presentational skills will also be
included, and there will be some study of the psychological aspects of
both learning and teaching the Alexander Technique. Students will be given
some guidance in the practical skills required to manage their own
teaching practice. [After Nicholls] |
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Course Philosophy
The MATTS course, in common with other Alexander
Technique training courses, aims to assist the student on a path of
integrated personal growth and development.
| The course has an essentially practical
orientation. Students learn through their own experience thereby
developing the self-knowledge needed to assist others to learn the
Technique.
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| Everyone connected with the school (staff and
trainees alike) is expected to take an active interest in, and
responsibility for, the welfare of the school and the on-going
development of the course.
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Key Aims
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| to facilitate the trainee’s own process of
learning enquiry.
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to develop trainees’ understanding of the core
principles and methods of Alexander's work to enable them to teach
the Alexander Technique in an effective, open-minded, ethical and
self-directed manner. The emphasis will be on empowering individual
students to take charge of their own lives; particularly by managing
their own process of change in their general manner of use and of
their teaching skills. |
The MATTS course centres around the development of
the trainee’s own "manner of use". Instruction is based on the
trainers’ own experience and, in particular, the approach developed by
Walter and Dilys Carrington at the Constructive Teaching Centre in
London. Walter Carrington worked closely with Alexander and continued
the methods and ethos of the original training course established by
Alexander in 1931.
Understanding of the Technique will be informed by
the trend for greater collaboration between areas of scientific study.
Daily class mainly comprises individual ‘hands-on’
mini-Alexander lessons (‘turns’), directed activities (‘games’) and
instruction in small groups to develop teaching skills.
Alexander’s four books form the core study material
together with other writing on the Technique and related subjects.
Other subjects include relevant aspects of anatomy and physiology,
educational psychology, sports and performing arts pedagogy,
science-based studies in human potential, etc.
Academic Modules |
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Academic Modules
| Year One: The Principles of the Alexander
Technique, Life and History of F M Alexander, The Books of F M
Alexander (68 hours; 40 minutes x 3 per week) Malcolm Williamson and
others |
Anatomy and Physiology (22.6 hours; 40 minutes per
week) Dr. Robert Macaulay and Jane Saunderson (and others)
| Year Two: Topics above to be studied in ever
greater depth in the second and third years. |
Books, Principles, History of F M Alexander (45.3
hours) As above.
Anatomy and Physiology (22.6 hours) As above.
Also:
Practical applications (10 hours)
Principles of Health Education (Half module, 4.6
hours) Susan Nelson
Educational Psychology (Full module, 8 hours)
Susan Nelson
| Year Three: Books, Principles, History of F M
Alexander (45.3 hours) As above. |
Anatomy and Physiology (22.6 hours) As above.
Also:
Practical applications/teaching practice (10 hours)
Ethics - Principles and Practice (Half module, 4
hours) Susan Nelson
Self Management (Half module, 4 hours) Susan
Nelson
Practice Management (Half module, 4 hours) Peter
Bloch
In addition, trainees are required to complete
course work and assignments. Study consists of short daily lectures
or discussion groups with occasional tutorials and individual
supervisions where guidance will be given in the preparation of
written projects.
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Reading List (September 2003)
Alexander, F M Man’s Supreme Inheritance (1918), Mouritz 1996
Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual
(1923), STAT Books 1997
The Use of the Self (1932), Victor Gollancz, 1985
The Universal Constant in Living (1941), Mouritz
2000
Articles and Lectures, (Ed. Fischer) Mouritz 1995
Other books
d’Alcantara, P Indirect Procedures: A musician’s
guide to the Alexander Technique, Clarendon Press 1997
Carrington, W and Carey, S Explaining the Alexander Technique, Sheildrake Press 1992
Carrington, W Thinking Aloud, Mornum Time Press
1994
Carrington, W The Act of Living, Mornum Time Press
1999
Jones, F P Freedom to Change (1976), Mouritz, 1997
The recommended reading list on anatomy and
physiology, health education, educational psychology, etc. will be
given at appropriate times during the course. When possible, books
will be available on loan to students from the RNCM Library and from
course tutors.
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Enrolment & Training Policies
See attached PDF file
Enrolment and Training
Policies |
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Admission Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements but candidates
must be of sound health, character and education. A thorough course of
instruction in the Alexander Technique on the basis of individual
lessons is presumed. See ‘Training Course’ [LINK] Entry is by
completion of an Application Form (available on request) and interview
with the Head of Training and other teachers. This will include
‘hands-on’ working as in a typical Alexander lesson.
An interest in music or other performing arts could
be useful because of the links with the Royal Northern College of
Music. The Alexander Technique plays an established role in the
training of actors and musicians; refining skills and preventing
injury, and the needs of young professional musicians will be an
important consideration for teaching practice in a trainee’s final
year. However, the Alexander Technique, and the principles upon which
it is based, are fundamental to ALL activities and almost any form of
previous training or experience can be an advantage.
Students are required to become Student Members of
STAT (fee payable) and must agree not to teach without authorisation.
All students are initially accepted on to the MATTS
course on a probationary basis. |
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STAT Student Membership
A fee is charged by the Society of Teachers to cover
membership, moderation and certification (£50 per year from April,
2001).
On commencement of their course, students must
become ‘Student Members’ of STAT and agree to be bound by its rules.
In particular, students entering the training course must agree not to
teach the Alexander Technique except under the supervision of the Head
of Training, nor hold themselves out as teachers of the Alexander
Technique until the Head of Training has recommended them for
certification and this has been approved by the Council of the Society
- Rule B. Student Members (d)(ii).
Student Members will receive regular mailings and be
encouraged to attend the Annual Conference (though student member may
not vote)
and participate in the Student Network Programme. |
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Assessment and Qualification
The course is based on attendance of 1600 class hours
over a minimum of three years. Assessment and qualification is based
mostly on continuous assessment throughout the course by the Head of
Training and other regular teachers. In particular, the student must
show a commitment to ongoing change by applying the Alexander
Technique in his or her daily life.
Additionally, students are ‘moderated’ in their
sixth and final terms by an independent Moderator appointed by the
Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique.
Although it is expected that most students will
complete their training successfully after three years, acceptance on
to the course in no way implies automatic qualification. If a question
arises over a student’s readiness to qualify, then he or she will be
informed immediately and may, at the discretion of the Head of
Training, be allowed to complete extra training on payment of the
usual fees. |
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Candidates with Disabilities
In view of the demands of training and teaching,
candidates with disabilities should seek an informal consultation with
the Head of Training to discuss their special needs. |
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