Review: Jones: Freedom to Change

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Alexander Technique Review 8.20.22

Reviews

Frank Pierce Jones (+ Jean M. O. Fischer ed.)

Freedom to Change
(previous title: Body Awareness in Action)
- The Development and Science of the Alexander Technique

1976 hb + pb (1997 pb), (212+xviii pages, pb, 26 b/w illustrations, 4 col. plates, 202 x 135 mm, index), Schocken Books (UK, Mouritz). 0805206280 (0952557479)

In print: Mouritz.

1. Review by Jean Clark

2. Review by Alex Murray

1. Review by Jean Clark

First published in STATNews no. 4, issue 19, 1997.

Yet again, we are indebted to Jean Fischer for another excellently published and badly needed book. This new edition is reset and has 45 additional pages of text, including for the first time 4 multi-image coloured plates, the draft for a further 15th chapter and notes from F. P. Jones’ journal (in a new appendix). It has a new foreword by Ted Dimon, President of the Alexander Technique Archives Inc., Massachusetts, in which he states that not only does this book promote and provide an introduction to the Technique, but that it also “elucidates the essential discoveries and insights on which the Alexander Technique is based.”

Frank Pierce Jones was professor of classics at Tufts and Brown Universities and studied the Technique with both F. M. and A. R. Alexander. His research in the Technique was done at the Institute for Psychological Research at Tufts where he also became lecturer in psychology. He lived through three quarters of this century 1905-1975; his untimely death cutting short the possibility of producing more of this both scholarly and scientifically based work, so we must make the most of what he has left us. He gives the fruits of 25 years research, measuring the differences between “habitual” and “teacher-guided” movement patterns, and studies the actual mechanics of the body in achieving awareness. He refers to an expanding field of attention and an ability to make reliable kinaesthetic observations of one’s self in activity. For him the purpose of Alexander lessons is “to sharpen the kinaesthetic sense and to increase self knowledge and self control.” He states, “such a concept of awareness, would, if it were established, force the re-organisation of two fields of psychology - perception, which at present is fractionated, and learning theory, which seems unable to cope with the problem of free-will.”

There are many fascinating insights into his view of the Technique, which can be found in the new inclusion of his ‘drafts and notes’. He maintains that “postural change is an ‘accident’, not a property” of the Alexander Technique. He lists eleven properties and seven accidents, and further points out that it is a means whereby’ technique, while all others are ‘end- gaining’. It has three characteristics not found elsewhere: kinaesthetic perception, primary control and inhibition. His observation on change is that “refusal to accept change is paradoxical because you are changing anyway - it is not a question of ‘change vs. no change’ but of changing for the better instead of for the worse. On self responsibility he advises, “Be your own expert; no one else can really give you expert advice about yourself... This, however, demands self study and responsibility.” On relaxation he maintains, “There is nothing wrong with either exercise or relaxation - the question is, is it mindless or intelligent?”

I could go on with more, but I would urge you to get this new edition (even if you already have the first), and digest it at your leisure.

2. Review by Alex Murray

First published in NASTAT News no. 37, Summer 1997.

This is a remarkable book by a remarkable man. Jones met Alexander in mid-life when Alexander was in his seventies. The book was written when Jones had reached the same age, after 35 years of change. When the two men met, the Alexander Technique and its principal proponents, FM and AR, had been continuously evolving over nearly fifty years. John Dewey commented that the most convincing evidence for the efficacy of the Technique was the change in the Alexander brothers since he first met them - not in their teaching, but in themselves.

Their teaching too, had changed, in what way we may never really know. But clues to the development have been provided by Jones who was in a unique position to chronicle them. He and his family lived under the same roof as the Alexanders for a period of 15 months, beginning in 1940. He was the only student in a training course until joined by his wife and, later, four other students.

The contents of the book are admirably summarized by Jones’ distinguished friend and colleague, J. McVicker Hunt in a generous introduction. The history of the book since its initial appearance in 1976, and the fate of the Jones experimental data, is covered in a new Foreword by Ted Dimon. Jones’ modest autobiographical material has been fascinatingly fleshed out in a fine biographical essay by Missy Vineyard introducing a volume of his collected papers Mind and Motion: A Scientific Study of the Alexander Technique, edited by Missy and due to appear shortly. This has been too long delayed and I for one eagerly await its appearance.

This edition (the 3rd) of what was formerly (inappropriately) called Body Awareness in Action, is enhanced by the inclusion of an edited version of Notes and Drafts. These have been circulating in typescript since Jones death in 1975. His intention was to write an additional concluding chapter but sadly he did not live to complete it. Regrettably, Jean Fischer has omitted an extremely pertinent sentence which should close the paragraph, “On Suggestion,” p. 201 (Jones’ chosen heading was “Suggestion Counterindicated”). The paragraph begins:

“The use of suggestion in teaching the Alexander Technique illustrates the adage ‘Nothing fails like success’. It is possible and really very easy to suggest a sensory experience and have a pupil or even an observer report that he experiences it, but once a person has convinced himself he has had a sensory experience, whatever this experience is, he will keep on having it whether it is appropriate or not - after this it may become almost impossible to give him an authentic experience. “

There was an additional sentence written by Jones that completed the above paragraph. It was edited out by Jean Fischer. This sentence reads:

“Marjorie Barstow’s group demonstrations provide striking examples of this.” 1)

I have been familiar with Jones work since the early 60s and with his book since his first drafts. I regret he did not live long enough to welcome this 3rd edition which I am sure would have given him much pleasure. If you are familiar with previous editions, it is worth purchasing for the additional material alone (including 4 color-coded illustrations). If you are unfamiliar with the book and are a serious student of the Alexander Technique, buy it, study it and digest it. It is the most comprehensive account of the Alexander Technique yet available.

1) NASTAT editor’s note: I have confirmed with Jean Fisher that the above sentence was part of Jones’ notes. This sentence was never published in Jones’ lifetime and no one knows whether he would have chosen to publish it today or whether he would even still hold that viewpoint.