What is the difference between an Alexander Technique student, an Alexander Technique trainee, an Alexander Technique teacher, and a Master Alexander Technique teacher?
Alexander Technique students
Generally, potential Alexander Technique students seek out teachers to solve a particular problem. Commonly, these problems include poor posture, back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain. But the list can be exhaustive since the Alexander Technique involves the whole body/mind.
The majority of Alexander students study the Alexander Technique without an interest in becoming Alexander Technique teachers, and Alexander Technique teachers teach students and trainees with different goals in mind.
Alexander Technique trainees
An Alexander trainee has made the choice to study the Alexander Technique in depth, with a possible interest to teach the technique. They have made a decision to have the Alexander Technique as a central part of their life, and will embark on a three-year-long journey.
Alexander Technique teachers
To become a Certified Teacher of the Alexander Technique, one needs to take over 30 private lessons with a certified teacher, leading to the audition process. If accepted, one enters into the teacher training program as an Alexander Technique Trainee.
Receiving certification as an Alexander Technique teacher requires over 1600 hours of training. Trainees are required to attend school five days per week, three hours per day, for three years. Out-of-school work consists of reading, written work, private lessons, and countless hours of practice.
Most trainees want to eventually become Alexander teachers, though people sometimes train without that goal in mind. They have gotten so much benefit from taking lessons a few hours per week, they want the benefit derived from fifteen or twenty hours per week.
Master Alexander Technique teacher
There are no designated Master Alexander Technique teachers. I believe every teacher is a master teacher; for every student there is a teacher who will help them the most.
Commonly, the term “master teacher” is applied to teachers who specialize in teaching other Alexander teachers. Some Alexander Technique teachers are masters at teaching beginners.
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
(917) 709-4648
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net-Student Reading books by Stuart Mills
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