A recent newspaper article has uncovered the connection between the Alexander Technique and Lionel Logue – the man credited with curing King George VI’s stammer and hero of the multi-award nominated film The King’s Speech starring Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth.
The indepth article, appearing in The Australian, describes how Logue established his career as an elocutionist in Perth, before “going to England to study voice production under the great master Alexander”.
The FM Alexander Technique has long been used as a basis for addressing the problems caused by excessive muscular tension. The method is founded on what Alexander termed psychophysical unity, and so enhances personal performance across a wide range of human activities, from musical performance to the management of disability, pain or illness.
To find an Alexander Technique teacher in your area visit The Tutor Pages Alexander Technique homepage, or contact STAT, the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique.
That is very interesting about the King’s Speech. I just saw the movie and as an Alexander Technique teacher wondered about that.
Yes, it’s a tantalizing link with FM! But I’ve since found out that there’s no evidence Logue actually went to see him. (It could have happened, of course…)
I have been teaching voice training for over twenty years internationally and believe strongly in the power of effective communication as a way of reaching our goals in life. Second to the way we present ourselves physically, speech is the second thing anyone knows about us and our identity is very much bound up with how well we communicate. Often we can make huge changes to others perception of us by improving our diction and articulation and I have watched many climb the ladder to success merely by overcoming lazy or poor diction or reducing a foreign or regional accent which is my speciality. In just 6 sessions one can make a dramatic difference. If you are interested in learning more, please visit http://www.voice-training.org. “It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it.” Joanna Gray (MA, BA, CERT EFL, DIP THEATRE ARTS)