Alexander Technique

• 3 years, totalling a minimum of 1600 hours.
• 3 terms of 10 - 12 weeks, with a one or two week half-term.
• Monday to Thursday 8.45 am - 1 pm.
• Term dates are decided in consultation with the Committee and we do our best to fit in with children’s school term dates when relevant.

We encourage an open and enquiring attitude to learning and teaching the Alexander Technique so that graduates have confidence in their ability to continue to learn for themselves, confidence in their ability to teach the Technique to individuals & small groups and be able to give introductory talks and workshops.

Teaching takes place in a mixture of individual sessions, small groups and the whole class. Each trainee has a minimum of three private lessons a term.

• Students work with teachers, each other, and individually to explore their experience and application of the principles of the Alexander Technique and the ways in which they interact with their own environments.
• Hand Contact Skills. Trainees separate into small groups with a teacher twice a week to accommodate the different stages of acquiring these skills. 2nd and 3rd year trainees work with other trainees and have a one-to-one session each week with a teacher. 3rd year trainees also give supervised lessons to members of the public and students of the Music Department of Bristol University.
• Teaching Games and Activities. These sessions are about the development of teaching skills that can be incorporated into an Alexander lesson.

• Study of F.M. Alexander’s books and other relevant literature.
• Anatomy, physiology and body mapping . Lectures, discussion, hands on and written work.
• Use of the voice: spoken and singing.
• Movement and teaching games .
• Discussion groups and talks on Alexander’s Principles, related topics.
• Communication and presentation skills: These sessions happen at the Training School and at Bristol University.
• In the 3rd year information is shared and discussed on the teacher pupil relationship and on setting up a teaching practice .

• Reading F.M. Alexander’s books and related texts. Preparing chapters for book sessions.
• Studying anatomy and physiology, including written work.
• Preparing presentations
• Varied Homework, e.g. Definitions of AT Principles, reviewing and comparing books on the AT, completing a 21 day AT diary.
• Video study

Our intake is usually in September and sometimes January.

Applicants need to have enthusiasm and interest in learning, together with a good understanding of the Alexander Technique, both in the theoretical ideas and in a practical, living application of the work.

We encourage potential trainees to visit the school at least once – several times if possible – before applying for a place on the course. There is no charge for prospective trainee visits to the school. Visitors are invited to take part in the day’s classes, meet and work with the teachers, and have a private lesson with Caroline outside school time.

As a STAT approved training course all students are requested to become student members of STAT, from the beginning of their training.

Career Development Loans have been made available to people undertaking this training course.

Trainees are encouraged to asses their own progress which is also discussed by the teachers at regular meetings. Because BATTSA is a STAT approved training course all trainees in their 6th and 9th terms will be assessed by a STAT - appointed Moderator. The moderator’s role is to make an external assessment of the trainees’ progress and then advise the Head of Training and the trainees.

The decision to qualify trainees is the responsibility of the Head of Training. We take care to stay in touch with each trainee’s progress and to maintain a two way communication. In some cases, a trainee may need more time so that they can be ready and confident to teach. Any trainee not reaching the required standard at the end of three years may continue their studies at the discretion of the Head of Training.

Upon graduation, trainees will receive a certificate from the Training School that is recognized by STAT. Graduates can then apply for their STAT certificate and membership.

Trainees undertake not to give unsupervised lessons in the Alexander Technique until they are qualified.

The School is run as a non profit-making Association, of which all teachers and current trainees are members.

We have a committee of 4 members, which deals with some of the financial decisions and is an advisory communication channel on other aspects of the course. We ask all members to be on the Committee for at least two terms.

The Head of Training has responsibility for teaching staff, curriculum, accepting and qualifying trainees, and overall decision making.

All trainees who accept an offer of a place on the course sign a contract and pay a non-returnable enrolment deposit of one term’s fees, within a month of the offer of the place.

A copy of the signed contract and a receipt for the enrolment deposit will confirm a trainees place.