Daily Alexander ‘semi-supine’ practice

Having first encountered Alexander work over twenty five years ago, I was fortunate that it was an integral part of my cello study. Lessons with Vivien Mackie and Rhuna Martin at “Gathering of the Clans” cello courses as a teenager had a strong influence. I experienced not only a greater physical ease in playing but also powerful moments where I felt enabled to reach an optimal state of performance, a flow or alpha state. I have found that working on awareness and attention through the Alexander Technique has helped me to access that more readily, to be more available to express the music.

I studied Alexander work intensively with Bryan McKenna during my cello studies with Alexander Baillie in Bremen, Germany. I then trained as an Alexander teacher with Ilana Machover, at her full-time STAT school in Queens’ Park, London, qualifying in 2012. From 2016-17 I completed an Alexander Alliance International postgraduate programme with Bruce Fertman, focusing on teaching in groups and working in activities and situations.

I have led group workshops in Lisbon, including for the Gulbenkian Orchestra, and in London including for Ealing and Redbridge Music Service training days. I am an assistant Alexander teacher at the Royal College of Music and a regular guest teacher at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music. From 2012-15 I was an assistant teacher at Arts Ed drama school and now teach singers at Associated Studios, for large groups led by Penny O’ Connor.

I offer individual lessons, small group teaching and also larger workshops, including as a certified teacher of a ten-week Foundation Course for Young Musicians.

I particularly enjoy working with performing artists on their awareness and use during practise and performance, and the greater ease and expression that this can allow.