Interview With Alexander Technique Practitioner Peter Jacobson

This is the audio version of the blogpost you can find at AllThingsVocal.com.

Today I interview Alexander Technique Practitioner Peter Jacobson. Listen to this episode to learn about this healing work created originally by Australian Frederick Mattias Alexander, and learn some fascinating things about how you can cooperate with your design to do all kinds of things better... including singing!

Peter is the Founder and Executive Director of Total Vocal Freedom, the world’s largest online Alexander Technique learning community. He is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, conductor, music educator and an AmSAT-certified (American Society of the Alexander Technique) teacher of the Alexander Technique. He discovered the Alexander Technique over 13 years ago after suffering from back pain and tendinitis while pursuing his music studies. Jacobson has earned advanced degrees in Conducting from the University of Illinois, the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and is a Certified Transformative Coach (Michael’s Neill Supercoach Academy Europe – Class of 2019).

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If you want the best vocal training proven to maximize vocal ability and conquer strain, try Power, Path and Performance vocal training, available at www.JudyRodman.com in vocal lessons and on CD courses.

Subjects covered in this episode include:

• What Alexander Technique is.
• Peter's three-part formula for artistry... desire + coordination + technique.
• How desire and intention change outcome in both Peter's and my work with students.
• The elusive 'quick fix' for laryngitis or other vocal issues; instant help and life-long improvement with experimentation, curiosity and deeper learning.
• How Alexander fixed his voice.
• Judy's story of vocal recovery.
• Conquering guarding stance and fear with freedom of choice.
• Coordination = cooperating with our design.
• Curiosity: Getting slow and being observant.
• Using tools of anatomy (the truth about the design) and imagery (mind pictures to direct anatomy) for vocal training. 
• Why Alexander Technique prefers to use thinking vs feeling.
• The importance of freely moving joints for the voice.
• Changing conception by changing perception, such as using the balance pad, Bosu ball or trampoline.
• Hands: touch communication. How teachers can use hands to help the student hold on to a new idea a little longer.
• Why the happy voice needs happy feet! (Who knew?)
• How we can help the voice heal itself by harnassing our innate intelligence
• The kindness in our design, the kindness we need to show ourselves.

Links mentioned in this podcast include:

• If you'd like to do some training in Alexander Technique, Peter is offering my listeners a special deal, available at this link: https://www.totalvocalfreedom.com/atv