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Author listings with pictures: A
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The descriptions were written by Jean M. O. Fischer and do not represent
or necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers and authors. |
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| Christine Ackers* |
Flecto-Sapiens-Orials
- Or Could you just show me how to bend?
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| 2006 bklt. 16 pages, b/w illustrations, A5 bklt, Australia, C. Ackers.
In print: e-mail Christine Ackers.
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| Christine Ackers* |
Sit happens
- Talking about sitting
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| 2002 bklt. 28 pages, b/w illustrations, A5 bklt, UK, The Sheildrake Press.
In print: Constructive Teaching Centre.
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Alcantara, Pedro de
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The first chapter covers the basic principles of the Technique; following chapters are on lessons, on the teacher, on performing arts, on sports and exercise, and on emotions (discussing, among other things, inhibition and the expression of feelings, detachment, the discomfort of change, relationships, psychotherapies). The author writes from his own experiences with humour and provides several case histories from pupils and teachers. The unity of mind and body and the principle of non-doing pervade this introductory book; it is erudite, intelligent, and pertinent to pupils and teachers alike.
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| Pedro de Alcantara* |
The Alexander Technique
- A Skill for Life
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| 1999 pb, 128 pages, illustrated, 235 x 166 mm, index, UK, The Crowood Press.
In print: general.
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| Erudite and intelligent - one of the better introductory books. |
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| Published by Oxford University Press this is a serious contribution to the literature of introductory books. It is a comprehensive introduction for musicians or, indeed, anyone who plays or sings, whether they are considering or having lessons. All concepts are covered without undue simplification and – unlike some other introductory books – without compromising the unity of mind and body. Alexander’s terms are incorporated with ease. It discusses technique, practice, stage-fright, and frequently encountered difficulties with clarity and sometimes wit. Appropriate quotes by musicians on technique support the argument for Alexnder Technique. It suggests how to apply the Technique to playing and describes some musical exercises for this purpose. Lessons are described with substantial explanations of the procedures for breathing, monkey, lunge, “hands on the back of the chair” and the whispered “ah”. Although teachers may not find it quibble-free they may well find many of the explanations and illustrations of interest. |
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Pedro de Alcantara*
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Indirect Procedures
- A Musician's Guide to the Alexander Technique
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| 1997 hb + pb, 313+xiv pages, 23 illustrations, 258 x 136 mm, index, UK: Oxford University Press, USA: Oxford University Press. 0198165692.
In print.
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| A serious and comprehensive introduction for musicians. |
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| Alexander, F. Matthias (1869-1955) |
| This edition consists of the complete text of Alexander’s last (1946) edition with additional material from earlier editions and comprehensive notes. Reviews of the first edition are added to the original appendices and one appendix contains material which was omitted from the first edition. Additional photographs. 207 endnotes. |
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F. Matthias Alexander
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The Universal Constant in Living
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| 1941 hb (2000 hb), 416 pages, ill., 234 x 153 mm, UK, Mouritz. 0952557444.
In print: Mouritz.
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| The scholarly edition, very detailed with 207 notes but it gets a bit heavy. |
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| With an introduction by John Dewey and a new introduction by Wilfred Barlow this is the text of the first edition; some changes were made in a later, 1946, edition. |
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F. Matthias Alexander
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The Use of the Self
- Its conscious direction in relation to diagnosis, functioning and the control of reaction
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| 1932 hb (1985, 2001, pb), 123 pages, Methuen, (Gollancz, Orion). 0575037202.
In print: general.
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| Economic paperback with the text of the first edition. |
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| This edition consists of Alexander’s authorised 1946 edition. It contains two prefaces by Alexander, an introduction by John Dewey, and a new foreword by Walter Carrington. Ten appendices contain reviews of the first edition. The introductory notes by Jean M. O. Fischer discusses Alexander's concept of sensory appreciation and the chapter "Illustration". The notes also provide a printing history and a table of changes between the 1923 and the 1946 editions. Several of the illustrations have not been published before. This also the first edition ever of CCC to feature an index. |
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F. Matthias Alexander
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Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual
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| 1923 hb (2004 pb), 239+xli pp, 10 b/w photos, index, 234 x 153 mm, UK, Mouritz. 0954352262.
In print: Mouritz.
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| The 1946 edition with notes on Alexander's concept of sensory appreciation, and a table of changes between the 1923 and the 1946 editions. |
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| See also McGowan, D. - Constructive Conscious Control Abridged and edited |
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| This edition consists of Alexander’s authorised 1946 edition with additional material from earlier editions. It contain prefaces by Alexander, John Dewey and a foreword by Walter Carrington. The appendices contain reviews (and extracts from reviews) of the early editions. Also included is a comparison table of the 1910 and the 1918 editions and notes on changes between the 1918 and 1946 editions. |
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F. Matthias Alexander
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Man's Supreme Inheritance
- Conscious Guidance and Control in Relation
to Human Evolution in Civilization
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| 1918 hb (1996 pb), 250+xxxviii pages, 12 b/w photos, index, 231 x 154 mm, UK, Mouritz. 0952557401.
In print: Mouritz.
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The 1946 edition with additional material from earlier editions plus notes on changes between the earlier editions. |
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| See also Brown, Ron - Authorised Summaries of F. M. Alexanders Four Books |
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| This pocket book contains 121 of Alexander’s teaching aphorisms – quotations from his lessons in the 1930s. All but two have previously been published in Articles and Lectures and E. Maisel’s collection. This edition contains 49 abstract ink illustrations – meditations on the aphorisms. Foreword by Mary Holland. Detailed index. |
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F. Matthias Alexander + Jean M. O. Fischer (ed.)
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Aphorisms
- Illustrated by Birgit Meyer-Woycke
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| 2000, 96 pages, hb, ill., 118 x 156 mm, UK, Mouritz. 0952557495.
In print: Mouritz.
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| A pocket book with 121 of Alexander’s teaching aphorisms. |
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| A compilation of articles, published letters and lectures on the Technique. It contains 16 articles and letters written before Man’s Supreme Inheritance (1910); six letters published between 1924 and 1948; three lectures (of which two are reported almost verbatim) given between 1925 and 1949; “teaching aphorisms” – observations and instructions from lessons; a foreword and a chapter for an unfinished book, “Alexander and the Doctors;” and an auto-biographical sketch covering Alexander’s first 35 years. Each paper is preceded by an introduction which gives the historical context. Additional material includes a foreword by Walter Carrington, 90 pages of notes with references, 5 facsimiles, a chronology of Alexander’s writings and two appendices. |
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F. Matthias Alexander + Jean M. O. Fischer (ed.)
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Articles and Lectures
- Articles, Published Letters and Lectures on the F. M. Alexander Technique
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| 1995 hb, 372+xxvii pages, hb, 22 b/w photos, index, 240 x 156 mm, UK, Mouritz. 0952557460.
In print: Mouritz.
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| A compilation of articles, published letters and lectures on the Technique, with 240 notes. |
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| Edward Maisel has selected from Alexander’s four books to give a condensed exposition of the development of the Technique, its applications and its consequences. The appendix contains among other things the three introductions to Alexander’s books by Professor John Dewey. The long introduction by Maisel is an account of Alexander and the history of the Technique. |
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F. Matthias Alexander + Maisel, Edward (ed.)
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The Resurrection of the Body
- USA
Alexander Technique - The Essential writings of F. Matthias Alexander - UK
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| 1969 hb (1986, 1990, 1995 pb), 204 pages, UK, Thames & Hudson (University Books, Shambhala, Carol Publishing, USA). 0500011184, 0500275904, 0818405066.
Out of print.
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| Selections from Alexander’s four books. Well-known for the long, but unreliable, introduction on Alexander and the history of the Technique. |
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| Armstrong, Joe |
| The author lists the reasons for working on oneself isolated from other activities. Two ways of consciously sending messages to the self are discussed in detail - a verbal “ordering” and a non-verbal “directing” - and under what circumstances each has proved most useful. He draws on his many years’ experimentation with the two approaches and also quotes senior teachers on the subject. The second article describes how to maintain an uninterrupted flow of breathing, both at rest and during a vocal demand. The author approaches the whispered “ah” with some preliminary “exercises” designed to ease the opening of the jaw by graduated amounts which can “ultimately arrive at an “ah” formation easily and freely …” |
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Joe Armstrong*
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Directing And Ordering:
A Discussion of Working on Yourself + Working on Breathing and Vocal Producation
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| 1994, 44 pages, pb, UK, STAT Books.
Out of print.
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| Detailed discussion of some ways of working with the Technique on oneself. |
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| Arsenault, Michele |
| An impressive, comprehensive and thorough manual for classroom teaching. It is a curriculum of learning activities that actively engage children in a “scientific hands-on exploration of human body use potential, using the guiding principles and concepts of the Alexander Technique.” Through experimenting, inquiring, and questioning, children are guided in their learning about themselves as a living structures, formed of the muscles, joints and skeletons. The mechanical aspects of use dominate, and terms and concepts covered include load, pull and push, gravity, tension, resistance, compression, elastic response, balance, mechanical advantage, levers and forces. Transcripts from sessions provide examples of how to direct questioning and attention in a desired direction. The curriculum presented is for 5-13 years old but it can easily be adapted for older age groups. |
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Michele Arsenault*
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Moving to Learn
- A Classroom Guide to Understanding and Using Good Body Mechanics
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| 1998, 268+xlviii pages, A4, spiral bound, illustrated, index, USA, Michele Arsenault
Out of print.
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| A comprehensive example of a manual for AT classroom teaching for 5-13 years old. |
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Copyright 1995-2010 © Mouritz UK. All Rights reserved.
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Figs. 1-3: Standing to attention in
The Syllabus of Physical Exercises for Public Elementary Schools, London, 1909, HMSO.
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