History

F.M. Alexander

The Alexander Technique is named after its founder, Frederick Mathias Alexander (1869-1955).  He was born in Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia.  Alexander was a skilled and impassioned Shakespearian orator and actor.  He studied voice, breathing and drama with the best of his day.   Alexander was embarked on a brilliant career when he began to lose his voice.  He sought medical help and was told to go on vocal rest.  He did recover upon rest but as soon as he resumed what he loved most, performing, Alexander began to experience hoarseness and chronic vocal fatigue.  Nothing he had learned to date had given him tools to preserve and protect his voice.  He deduced that since his vocal problems only occurred as a result of performing that there must be something he was doing to produce the problem.  Alexander spent the next eight years observing himself trying to discover what he was doing that was bringing about the problem.  In the end he discovered what we now call the Alexander Technique, a discipline that enables people to move and live in a connected, poised and powerful manner. FM Alexander went on to have a briliant performing and teaching career.

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