Freedom, Flexibility and Ease in Performance
Many singers and conductors experience excessive muscular effort in performance, which can greatly limit their ability to perform well. The Alexander Technique is a fascinating study of the relationship between thinking and movement. All human activity involves movement, whether it’s singing, conducting, playing an instrument, walking, running or engaging in simple everyday tasks. F.M. Alexander, an Australian actor, began a life-long study of himself as he tried to find a solution to his vocal difficulties. What he discovered is relevant for us all. How we are thinking, as we carry out a movement, can have a profound influence on our ability to move easily, freely and efficiently. This informative introductory lecture and demonstration will introduce you to the Interactive Teaching Method (ITM) approach to the Alexander Technique. You will learn some key concepts that you can apply immediately to improve your mental and physical performance. By learning more about ourselves and the principles which govern all movement behaviour, we can greatly improve the quality of our performance, and greatly enhance the quality of our lives in general.

Mary Shorten has been involved in choral music for many years as a chorister, vocal tutor and conductor. In 2012, she graduated as an ITM Alexander Technique teacher, having studied with Don Weed, Head of ITM Training in Bristol. She is also a trainer on the current ITM teacher training course.