F.M. Alexander

Who is F.M. Alexander

Fredrick Matthias (F.M.) Alexander was born in 1869 in Australia. Fueled by an ambition to recite Shakespeare, Alexander discovered that he would lose his voice after performing. This loss of voice prohibited him from performing, and led him to explore ways to remedy this dilemma. Alexander hypothesized that he was doing something to himself in the act of performing that was resulting in a loss of his voice. After observing himself in the mirror for many moons, he discovered that he was in fact doing something to himself, namely pulling his head back in space, and compressing his larynx. Alexander continue learning about his habitual tendencies not only in reciting, but also in the act of living. Alexander, now garnering a reputation as "the breathing man," began teaching his method in workshops. The Alexander Technique started with F.M., and has passed down from generation to generation to present day.

For more information on F.M. Alexander and his journey, check out "F.M.: The Life of Frederick Matthias Alexander" by Michael Bloch and "The Use of The Self" by F.M. Alexander (specifically the chapter title "Evolution of a Technique."

sam brown's teaching lineage

Walter Carrington
Walter Carrington was one of F.M. Alexander's first teacher trainees. He took over Alexander's training course in London after Alexander passed away. Carrington was described as being very kind and gentle.

Joan & Alex Murray
Joan & Alex Murray studied with Walter Carrington and taught for many years in Urbana, Illinois. They are great scholars of the Alexander Technique, and developed activities called "The Dart Procedures" with consultation with Raymond Dart (more below).

Karen DeWig
Karen DeWig studied with Joan & Alex Murray in Urbana, Illinois and has taught many eager pupils in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Karen is among the most respected teachers in the U.S.A. and has created her own training course in Albuquerque New Mexico.

who is Raymond Dart?

Raymond Dart was an anatomist and anthropologist. His claim to fame was his discovery of the "missing link" (Australopithecus africanus). He pertains to the study of the Alexander Technique because of Joan & Alex Murray (mentioned above), who created a set of procedures later known as "the Dart Procedures." These procedures, which were shown to Raymond Dart in 1967, are an amalgamation of the principles of the Alexander Technique and Raymond Dart's discoveries. The above teachers, including Sam, utilize "the Dart Procedures" in their teaching.