More
about the Teachers Training Course
Course Philosophy
and Content
The fundamentals of the training are based on our experience of the approach
developed over many years by Walter and Dilys Carrington, our own experience of
training Alexander teachers in Holland and our life-time of invovement with Theatre,
Education and the Performing Arts.
ATCA students and teachers July
2005
During the first year of the training the core-work is primarily devoted to learning to improve one's own self-awareness and 'use'. It involves us in a process of change and individual development, which builds the foundation for the use of our hands and our interaction with others in teaching.
In the second year, as the growing awareness of the 'use' of ouselves continues, the course includes more the maintaining of this process, while working on each other. In conjunction with the deepening understanding of the work is the development of more complex skills and procedures' to pass on the Alexander Technique through the subtle use of the hands together with verbal guidance in teaching.
In the third year the practical problems of teaching are approached. The student's progress from practising on each other to supervised practice on members of the public. The continuing self-improvement, knowledge, skills and individual expression developed in the first two years are challenged and put into practice in this situation.
Throughout the three years, the group work with movement or voice work is an integral
element, embracing and interweaving the core-work. This form of interaction between
the individual and the group is used as a preparation for presenting and speaking
about the Technique in one's own individual style, with confidence and openness.
The
student's progress is assessed in an on-going way, involving internal and external
assessors.
Weekly Course Content
* Individual 'turns' (short lessons" from one of the teachers every day.
* Minimal two half-hour 'hands-on' groups per week (usually three students per group)
*Some form of 'directed activity' or established 'procedure' every day. e.g. chairwork, tablework, whispered 'ah', standing, walking, waiting, sitting, squatting, lying down, and rising, etc.
*Or a half-hour groupwork with either movement or voice work.
*A lecture/discussion period of thirty minutes every day, covering F.M. Alexander's four books and related literature.
*Anatomy and physiology once a week and two three day periods a year with guest teachers Jane Saunderson and Carmen Tarnowski.
*Guest teachers with considerable teaching experience are invited regularly on subjects such as medicine, sport, music, voice, working with children
*Students are expected to work on themselves both during course hours and outside course hours, and they have access to a substantial library of relevant books, articles and videos.
Copyright Versteeg/Marwick 2000. All rights reserved.
ATCA teachers workshop 2005
