In order to re-create the experience of walking in F.M. Alexander’s highly-polished tasseled shoes, I decided to get pharyngitis last week. It might have been laryngitis; I’m not sure. But it was definitely some sort of aryngitis.
I had no voice at all. I mean, I could talk, but it hurt and I sounded like a 100 year old woman, with laryngitis.
More importantly, teaching was difficult, just as F.M. Alexander losing his voice stopped his gig. (It’s useful to keep in mind that the Alexander Technique was developed by a guy who wanted to keep on gigging.)
The laryngitis made me feel helpless, although I knew it was temporary and it only ended up lasting a few days.
F.M. Alexander’s hoarseness was occurring frequently. Eventually he was losing his voice every time he recited, and reciting Shakespeare was his joy, and it was how he supported himself and his family. It must have been extremely troubling for him. It would be understandable if he felt fearful.
For me, it was a new, uncomfortable experience. I wasn’t able to communicate with friends, store-owners, and even worse; bartenders. My phone became completely worthless. This was back in the day when a phone was a phone.
I received a call from a prospective student. Without thinking, I picked up and tried to say hello. All that came out was a squeaky, high pitched “lo”. Luckily I was able to text her, and explain my situation.
This lack-of-voice experience gave me some insight as to how F.M. Alexander might have felt. His career was starting to advance, but was being thwarted by his vocal problems.
Was there was some desperation involved while he was trying to solve his problem?
Since his voice had proven unreliable, did he think teaching would be a safer way of making a living?
F.M. Alexander was like a musician who could no longer play.
Back when I wasn’t able to gig as a full-time working musician because of severe neck and hand pain, I was desperate to find a solution. For decades, I had supported myself by playing, touring, and recording jazz, latin, and pop. Within just a few weeks, I could no longer play, and fear became a big part of the scenario.
Thank goodness F.M. Alexander endured what he did, and solved his problem with his work; his technique, the Alexander Technique. Thank goodness he was eventually persuaded to start a training course so his work wouldn’t die out. And thank goodness he passed on this gift to us.
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
Image courtesy of Gualberto107 FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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