Manchester Alexander Technique
Training School
Est. 2001
Training Team
Students at MATTS benefit from the experience and skills of many teachers. Nearly 30 teachers are regularly involved in the work of our training course and students can usually expect to see about 10 different teachers during the course of a normal week of training. Our lead teachers have all had many years of experience in the training of teachers.
In addition to these, MATTS has strong connections with other training courses and with the broader community of Alexander Technique teachers. Our students benefit from visits by notable teachers from elsewhere in the UK and from around the world.
Peter Bloch BA, MSTAT leads the training course at MATTS and teaches at the school every day.
Peter trained as a teacher in London with Walter and Dilys Carrington; Walter Carrington was trained by Alexander himself in the 1930s. Peter has maintained a private practice and taught in conservatoires and colleges, since qualifying as a teacher in 1987, in London, Manchester and Cheshire.
For many years, both before and after training, Peter studied extensively with almost all of the surviving teachers who had trained with Alexander.
Peter has a longstanding special interest in the training and professional development of Alexander Technique teachers, organising many workshops, conferences and other events, both large and small, to this end. In 2001 he assisted Malcolm Williamson in the setting up of the new Manchester Alexander Technique Training School (MATTS) and was assistant director of the course for five years. During the 3 year period that MATTS was closed he led a weekly CPD class for teachers that was attended by many teachers from throughout the region, and which continues today as the 'Thursday Class'.
More information about Peter and details of his private teaching practice in Wilmslow.
Malcolm Williamson BA, ARCM, MSTAT led MATTS for 16 years. He is now the Director Emeritus of MATTS and official assistant director of MATTS. He teaches at the school on most Thursdays and Fridays.
Malcolm has been teaching since 1984. He founded the Manchester Alexander Technique Training School (MATTS) in 2001 and trained a total of 35 Alexander teachers up to 2017.
Since 1985 he has been an Alexander tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Malcolm was a member of the Scottish National Orchestra for many years and then trained as an Alexander teacher with Walter and Dilys Carrington. He served on STAT’s governing council for 10 years, including as Treasurer and Chair, and was Editor of Statnews (1988–2000). Malcolm has written numerous articles and been a contributing author and editor of three books about the Technique.
Malcolm is a regular visiting teacher for the training schools in Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Tallinn.
More information about Malcolm, details of his private teaching practice in Manchester and a list of his publications.
Liz Hulse BSc, Cert.Ed, MSTAT is the co-assistant director of MATTS and teaches at the school on Wednesdays and Thursdays each week.
Liz was one of the first teachers to train at MATTS and since qualifying in 2004 taught on the course each week as an assistant teacher for 13 years until 2017.
Liz continued to teach each week in the Thursday classes from 2017 and 2020 and, since MATTS re-opened in 2020, Liz has continued to come into the school as an assistant director on two days each week.
Liz is available for individual lessons in Wilmslow, although usually only for teachers, trainee teachers and potential trainee teachers.
Alex Proudfoot MSTAT is a very experienced teacher and teaches at MATTS on two days most weeks.
"Whilst at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama at Glasgow in the 1980s I was fortunate to have group and individual Alexander Technique lessons as part of the course.
I undertook the three year training to become a Teacher of the Alexander Technique at the Alexander Technique Training Centre in Devon and graduated in 1987.
I took a short break from teaching in the 1990s and re-trained at the Manchester Alexander Technique Training School (MATTS)." Alex has a private teaching practice in Manchester.
The Clockworks, 93 Princess Road, Moss Side, MANCHESTER, M14 4BR
http://www.coordinate-align.me.uk
07927 303711
Dorothea Magonet Hon ARAM, MSTAT is the STAT-appointed training course Moderator of MATTS and visits our school most terms.
Dorothea became interested in the Alexander Technique in the early 1970’s during her Physiotherapy training and completed her Alexander teacher training with Misha Magidov in London in 1983.
She assisted on the North London Teachers' Training Course and has regularly taught as a visiting teacher on training courses in London, Manchester, Kendal and Amsterdam. She regularly teaches and runs workshops in Japan and Europe. In addition, she has been teaching musicians and singers at the Royal Academy of Music since 1984.
Dorothea has served on STAT’s governing council, including as Honorary Secretary and Chair of the Society. She also served as Chair of the Training Course Committee and was involved in the process of Voluntary Self-regulation of the Alexander Technique profession until 2004.
More information about Dorothea and details of her private teaching practice in London.
Dorothea is usually available for private lessons for qualified teachers and experienced students during her visits to Wilmslow.
Other regular and occasional teachers at MATTS
Janet Pinder-Emery BGRSM, PGCE, MSTAT, comes to MATTS as a visiting senior teacher on about 4 days each term.
A violin teacher, Janet trained in London at Alexander Teaching Associates, qualifying in 1986. She taught the Technique in Chester for 33 years, before moving to Ambleside, Cumbria, where she now lives and teaches the Technique.
Janet understands the challenges faced by musicians; she taught music students at the RNCM for several years, and community drama student groups at LIPA. She has worked with a wide variety of people of all ages, including children. Some have lessons to help overcome a problem, others to help maintain a good state of balance and functioning.
01539 433471
Jane Osgood BSc, CQSW, Dip. CSW, Dip. Group Work in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, BA Fine Art Photography, MSTAT.
Jane was the assistant director of MATTS for several years and led the class on Wednesday each week. She took a break from leading classes from May 2023, but plans to continue to visit the school frequently.
Jane qualified in 1994 at the Fellside school and completed a postgraduate term at The Constructive Teaching Centre with Walter and Dilys Carrington.
In addition to teaching the AT in companies, teaching Social Workers and Police, and adults in FE colleges, Jane runs a busy private practice. Several of Jane's pupils have trained to become teachers (including the previous Chair and Secretary of STAT).
More information about Jane.
Jane's private teaching practice is located in New Mills at the Alternative Health Clinic, 8 Union Road, New Mills, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK22 3ES
Tel: 01663 742 282
Gillian Pierce BSc, MSc, MSTAT
Gillian teaches in MATTS most weeks. She came to the AT because of back trouble and when it enabled profound change, decided to train as a teacher to be able to help others. She has a practice in Macclesfield.
Gillian enjoys hill walking, gardening, singing, visiting tea shops and giving illustrated talks.
01625 612015
Sue Fleming
BSc, MSc, PhD, MSTAT
A frequent teacher at MATTS, Sue lives and works in Chorlton in Manchester, having trained at MATTS. She teaches individuals and groups, and has worked across charity and business sectors. She has supported STAT through 8 years on Council (Treasurer and Chair), on the training committee, and currently as International Liaison. Sue is particularly interested in working with the singing voice, and brings the Technique to her garden and allotment, and learning the piano and Tai Chi.
Annalisa Faenza
MSTAT
Annalisa teaches in MATTS every week. She first encountered the Alexander Technique when looking for help with back pain and when she found that every lesson brought a sense of well-being decided to train as a teacher. Annalisa gave up her work with the civil service to train at MATTS and has been a regular teacher on the course for several years.
Annalisa says, "my back pain has virtually disappeared and an unexpected (at the time) by-product of the technique has been that my singing in an amateur choir has become much freer and the sound I produce is fuller."
Annalisa offers lessons in Didsbury, Manchester.
Jenny Fox Eades
MA (Cantab), PGCE, MA, Dip. Th. , PhD, MSTAT
Jenny is an occastional teacher at MATTS and will be teaching modules related to the theory and ethics of education. Jenny has more than 30 years' experience (7 with the A.T.) teaching groups and a PhD in Well-being in Education. She also has professional qualifications in group skills and dynamics.
In addition to her work in our classes, Jenny is a visiting teacher at Alexander groups in Wilmslow and South Manchester and teaches 1:1 lessons in Macclesfield.
As well as modelling the skills that make teaching in general, and group teaching in particular, a joy and a success, Jenny explains to visiting teachers and trainee teachers the group processes and dynamics behind these skills and provides safe opportunities for them to practice the skills for themselves in a supportive environment.
Jenny is currently training at The Queens Foundation in Birmingham to become an Anglican priest. One of her key interests is the Alexander technique as a spiritual practice for those of any faith or none.
Gill Thorndyke
MSTAT
Phone
Website
Jane Evans
MSTAT
Susan Harrison
MSc, MSTAT
Susan has a background in Clinical Physiology and worked for the NHS as a Cardiac Sonographer for 30 years.
Susan also teaches the technique at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Dan Parr
BA, MSTAT
Dan graduated from MATTS in 2022 and continues to teach at the school each week. He runs a practice in Sheffield teaching individuals and workshops.
Dan has a particular interest in the internal martial arts, having practiced wing chun kung fu for over 20 years. Since 2014 he has taught classes and seminars in Sheffield, attracting a large following of students from across Europe. He integrates AT principles into his martial arts teaching.
Tel: 07756504772
Email. sheffieldalexandertechnique@gmail.com
Web: sheffieldalexandertechnique.com
John Nicholls
MSc, MSTAT
John visits MATTS about twice each year, usually leading the class for a whole week and offering private lessons.
A notable senior teacher, John has been teaching the Alexander Technique for over 45 years and has supervised the training of over 100 teachers. His visits to MATTS attract teachers from all over the UK.
Andrea Hughes
MSTAT
Andrea trained as a teacher in Fellside and also at MATTS. She lives and works in Altrincham, Cheshire and also teaches in Central Manchester (flyer) and Didsbury. In addition, she teaches a regular, long established group class for the public in Fallowfield, Manchester and another class at the Wilmslow Guild.
Andrea has a background in television production design and is an artist and trained at Fellside and at MATTS.
Andrea is enthusiastic about the possibilities of helping people to become happier, more mobile and experience a reduction in pain through the application of the priniciples of the Alexander Technique to their everyday lives.
Marie Leenhardt
Marie teaches at MATTS several times each term, usually on a Saturday. She is a classical musician and Principal Harp with the Halle orchestra in Manchester. She is a frequent teacher at MATTS and also teaches at Chetham's School of Music. Born in France Marie is fluent in English, French and Spanish. Marie also loves dancing, hiking and climbing.
Marie is available for private lessons in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21
Rhiannon Jones
MA, BMus (hons), PGCE, MSTAT
Rhiannon is an occasional teacher at MATTS. She lives in Chester and offers lessons in Queen’s Park, Chester with a studio overlooking the River Dee.
An experienced librarian and primary school teacher, Rhiannon sings with the Hallé Choir in Manchester and is a multi-instrumentalist. Rhiannon serves STAT as a Council member.
James Power
MA
James trained as a teacher at MATTS and teaches in the school every week. He lives and works in Knutsford and also offers lessons in Alderley Edge. James has a particular interest in working with professional athletes and runners and offers walking and running courses to groups and individuals in Tatton Park. James also works with businesses to help their employees to reduce the impact of working at computers in high stress environments.
James graduated from St Andrews University with a first in English and has an established career as a Communication director, speechwriter and editor. He is a regular judge at national public speaking competitions and likes to use the Alexander Technique to help people who are preparing talks and presentations.
David Hudson
MSTAT
David is a frequent teacher at MATTS.
David based in Macclesfield and teaches across Cheshire and the South Manchester area.
As well as teaching privately, he is particularly interested in introducing the Technique to performers of all abilities and has regularly delivered workshops to groups of music and drama students.
He also teaches the guitar and is a graduate of Leeds College of Music.
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Pete Robinson
BA, PGCE, ATCL, mSTAT
Pete is a frequent teacher at MATTS. Pete trained as a teacher with Malcolm Williamson at MATTS. He qualified in 2007 and continued to attend as a visiting teacher for many years. A regular teacher at MATTS, he really enjoys helping trainees deepen their understanding of the technique and develop their individual teaching skills. Pete He has also maintained a private Alexander practice in Manchester and Stockport, and currently teaches from his home in Heaton Mersey.
Pete is also a professional musician and music teacher and continues to perform and record regularly. Currently, Pete is on the staff at the RNCM having previously taught in various FE and HE establishments. He also enjoys providing workshops and groups to a wide range of organisations across the arts, education, charity and industrial sectors.
Pete has a strong interest in improving the range and quality of Alexander Technique material available online. He runs an Alexander Technique Youtube Channel and publishes online courses.
Teaching Practice:
Alexander Videos
email: Pete@movementandposture.com
Private Teaching Practice:
37 Cherry Holt Avenue
Heaton Mersey
Stockport
SK4 3PS
Sallie Bancroft
MSTAT
Sallie worked for many years as a neuro-physiotherapist before retraining as a teacher of the Alexander Technique.
Sallie teaches at MATTS every week and teaches Anatomy and Physiology on the training course. She has a private AT teaching practice in Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Kim Cant
MSTAT
Kim is an occasional teacher at MATTS. She enjoys sailing, skiing, cycling and plays golf regularly Kim has a particular interest in improving sports performance and strongly believes that the Technique can help to do this through improving balance, poise and breathing.
Kim teaches at her home in Warrington where she has a dedicated teaching studio.
Andy Moorhouse
PhD, MSTAT
Andy teaches at MATTS most weeks.
"I started studying AT in 1992 - I had played the piano since I was 6 and spent a lot of my life writing music and playing in rock and jazz bands alongside my career as a research engineer. But I got to a point where I realised that my playing was never going to get any better no matter how much I practised because of tension in my shoulders and hands. Fortunately, I came across the AT and started having lessons with Malcolm Williamson at the Royal Northern College of Music. The bad habits started to drop away and I quickly realised that AT gave me a way of working on myself which I’m still using today. I completed my training at MATTS in 2013."
Andy gives individual lessons and runs AT group classes from his charming studio at:
Bottom's Farm, 788 Rochdale Road, Todmorden, OL14 7UA
https://alexandertechnique.co.uk/users/moorhouse
https://www.facebook.com/alexandertechnique.unlearning
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Charlotte Woods
MSTAT
Charlotte is a frequent teacher at MATTS. A graduate in psychology, Charlotte worked in education internationally for many years before taking up a lectureship at the University of Manchester in 1996. She first had lessons in the Alexander Technique with Malcolm Williamson in 2003, and these helped her manage the chronic neck pain that had troubled her for many years. Charlotte left the University in 2015 in order to train as an Alexander teacher at MATTS and to assist in the care of her mother, who had dementia. As well as teaching the Alexander Technique, Charlotte is actively involved in promoting the technique through research and writing: she is a member of the Research Group of the Society for Teachers of the Alexander Technique and of the Alexander Studies Online team.
Maggie Bishop
B.Ed, MSc, MSTAT
Maggie is an occasional teacher at MATTS. She lives in Nottinghamshire and teaches in Nottingham and Collingham near Newark. Maggie has a background in education.
When lessons in the AT proved remarkably and quickly effective in stopping her knee pain, back pain and frequent migraines Maggie decided to train.
"I loved my job working in a local authority but decided that I would become an Alexander Technique teacher. Since then, I’ve never looked back. I reckon the Alexander Technique has given me a 20-year extra life-span, improving my fitness and health."
Anne Battye
MSTAT
Anne qualified as a teacher of the Alexander Technique in 1964 and is probably the most experienced teacher still in active practice.
She trained with Marjory Barlow, who trained on Alexander's first training course for teachers that began in 1931.
For many years she taught at RADA, teaching and becoming friends with many of the leading lights of British acting.
You can find more information about Anne and her contact details on her website: https://annebattye.com