About Us
Daniel McGowan M.S.T.A.T.
Danny
Member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique
My involvement with the Alexander Technique goes back to 1976 when I had my first lesson in Glasgow, Scotland. The history of my experience is as follows :-
1976 to 1980 :- Regular lessons with Jeanne and Aksel Haahr who studied under Walter Carrington in London. Walter Carrington studied under F.M Alexander and took over F.M’s training course after he passed away in 1955.
September 1980 to July 1983 :- I undertook the 3 year training course for teachers at the Alexander Technique Training Centre (A.T.T.C) in Dartington, England. Jeanne and Aksel Haahr were the Directors of this centre, which was run in association with Dartington College of Arts.
July 1983 :- Qualified as a teacher and started teaching immediately. I was offered a post by Jeanne and Aksel as a teacher at the A.T.T.C. I gladly accepted and began this work in September 1983. Since then I have always been a training-course teacher.
September 1983 to July 1988 :- Assistant teacher at the A.T.T.C.
September 1988 to July 1990 :- Assistant Director at the A.T.T.C.
September 1990 to December 1999 :- Director of the Ausbildungszentrum für F.M
Alexander Technik – Berlin, Germany.
During my ten years as Director, 42 students took the 3-year training course and qualified as teachers.
Since January 2000, I have been teaching in Totnes, Aberdeen, Berlin and the Dartington International Summer School of Music. (Summer School since 1983).
My partner Sarah Paice and I are co-founders and Directors of C.C.A.R.E – Centre for Constructive Awareness and Related Education.
To date, 17 people have qualified as teachers from the course..
As well as having 26 years experience as a training-course teacher and Director, I have also run a successful private practice, teaching members of the public in a one-to-one situation. I have taught the Alexander Technique in England, Scotland, Germany, France, Brazil, the Canary Islands, and in the United States of America. To date, I have introduced and taught the Alexander Technique to individuals and groups. To date the total is around 15,000 people.
In addition, I have, for the past 26 years, taught the Alexander Technique at the Dartington Summer School of Music, which takes place at the Dartington College of Arts, in Devon, England. This work entails teaching singers and musicians of many nationalities on a one-to-one basis. I also give workshops and lectures to groups.
Over the years I have also given introductory workshops to doctors, musicians and the general public, as well as giving evening classes for beginner groups.
When I moved to Germany in 1990 to direct the Ausbildungszentrum, I prepared abridged versions of F.M’s four books for studying in class. This I did to help the students whose first language was not English to understand F.M’s writings. One of my abridgements, “CONSTRUCTIVE CONSCIOUS CONTROL” has since been published by “THE PAUL BRUNTON PHILOSOPHIC FOUNDATION” situated in the state of New York, U.S.A.
I have also written a book entitled “CONSTRUCTIVE AWARENESS” subtitled “ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE and the SPIRITUAL QUEST”, which was also published by the same foundation.
In my 26 years as a training course teacher and Director, I have developed and taught “holistic anatomy”, which means anatomy related to general good use and co-ordination of the human organism. My background in engineering and structures has proved invaluable in understanding the body as a mechanism.
In August 2000, I completed my second book, entitled “GOING MENTAL.” I published this book myself in January 2002. It features the Alexander Technique in relation to the theory of mentalism, as well as a detailed description of “holistic anatomy” mentioned above. In other words, it combines the practical with the philosophical approach to daily living.
Lastly, I am a professional musician and singer/songwriter; a most enjoyable part of my life.
Daniel McGowan
11 Bridge Road
Totnes
Devon TQ9 5FG
Tel : 0845 458 0135
E-mail :- ccare.danny@googlemail.com
Sarah Paice M.S.T.A.T.
Sarah (left)
Member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique.
I started having Alexander lessons in 1984 with Danny McGowan and a year later started the three-year training under Jeanne Haahr and Jorgen Haahr at the Alexander Technique Training Centre in Dartington, Devon. The centre was run in association with Dartington College of Arts.
After qualifying in 1988, I was offered the post of teacher and secretary on Jeanne Haahr’s training course. I accepted and taught there until 1990.
Also in 1988 I started teaching, in partnership with Danny, at the International Summer School of Music at Dartington, Totnes, Devon.
In 1990 I moved to Berlin to open the first Alexander Training Course there with Danny and also ran a private teaching practice. I returned to Devon each summer to continue my teaching at the Summer School of Music in Dartington.
Since I returned to England in 1993 I have taught in Totnes, Brixham, Kingsbridge, Crediton and Scotland.
My partner Danny McGowan and I are co-founders and Directors of C.C.A.R.E, Centre for Constructive Awareness and Related Education, a training course based in Totnes which started in January, 2002.
I am also a Personal Colour Consultant, and a member of COLOURFLAIR STUDIOS.
Sarah Paice
11 Bridge Road
Totnes
Devon TQ9 5FG
Tel: 0845 458 0135
email: – ccare.danny@googlemail.com
List of teachers we’ve qualified
Member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander TechniqueMember of the German Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique