The Alexander Technique of Syracuse

Kathryn Miranda

Certified Teacher of the Alexander Technique

    "For the Alexander Technique doesn’t teach you something new to do.  It teaches you how to bring more practical intelligence into what you are already doing; how to eliminate stereotyped responses; how to deal with habit and change.  It leaves you free to choose your own goal but gives you a better use of yourself while you work toward it."

Frank Pierce Jones

Freedom to Change: The Development and Science of the Alexander Technique

(London: Mouritz, 1997)

Learning a performance art is a demanding process.  In order to achieve the successful career of a performing artist, a student devotes enormous amounts of time to study, practice and the development of skills.  Even though most people study hard to play, sing, dance or act well, they often miss a key ingredient of their development as performers. They do not learn how to use their mind and body with the efficiency and poise that is so admired among the great performers.  As important, often performers do not acquire enough knowledge to maintain psychophysical health.  It is unfortunate when people who have great talent have to give up their career aspirations because of various preventable and solvable problems.  Some of them have physical issues such as pain and injury; others  have stage fright or suffer through disappointing performances.  Many search for medical reatment and may receive some amelioration; however, the root of the problem remain unchanged and they continue to struggle.

The Benefits of the Alexander Technique for Performers

By Kathy Miranda

Oct 23,2005

Through an Alexander course rich in conceptual foundations and equally rich in experiential opportunities, an Alexander course rich in conceptual foundations and equally rich in experiential opportunities,students come to realize how their body can develop movement and performance skills without strain, stress, pain or the potential for overuse injuries.

By offering courses in the Alexander Technique, schools can address the point of view that the performer’s first instrument is conscious thinking—it is the primary factor in performing any activity.  Through coursework in the Alexander Technique, students not only learn to use conscious thinking to make efficient use of the self, body and mind, but also learn to maintain a psychophysical balance that allows for the spontaneous and free expression of their creativity.

© Kathryn Miranda 2005. All rights reserved

Lessons in the Alexander Technique offer significant benefits in the improvement of self-use and in learning correct performance techniques. Schools such as Mannes College of Music, The Juilliard Schooland the Yale School of Drama have come to see how important the Alexander Technique is for their student. Therefore, they offer Alexander Technique courses to help their students solve issues related to inefficient physical and mental habits.

The Alexander Technique is a body of knowledge that, when applied, can reduce many kinds of performance issues and allow freedom in the practice and performance of music and theater. 

The problem with performance education in many conservatories, colleges and universities is that too much emphasis is placed solely on the courses directly related to the art and craft of performance, whether musical or theatrical.  These courses are, of course, essential and provide students with knowledge and the techniques necessary for performance, however, there are rarely courses that address ways to apply the mind and body efficiently.  Because of the lack of proper knowledge about human function and structure, many inefficient habits are cultivated, such as improper postural poise, poor breathing dynamics and muscle tightening or stiffening.  These problems often develop without the performer’s awareness that he or she is doing anything wrong.

Alexander Technique of Syracuse, Kathryn Miranda, Director.  kmmiranda@twcny.rr.com  or 315-412-4829