Excerpts and bonus material from Volume 3 No. 7: Schools of Thought Issue (Purchase here)
Schools for Thought (pages 7-12)
In this article we examined the curriculums and preparatory education offered by 3 training schools; ATTC in Ireland, ACAT in New York and Bodythought in Israel. Below is an excerpt from the article plus some bonus audio and downloads from Brooke Lieb, director of ACAT.
Richard Brennan working (image Caroline Brennan)How does Richard Brennan[ATTC] prepare his graduates for their imminent foray into the “real world”?“I share with my trainees lots of ideas about how to attract students and secure free advertising, and I follow them up with professional guidance and help after they have qualified. This has resulted in nearly every graduate from the training course creating a teaching practice.”
At ACAT, Vivien Schapera’s training manual “How to Establish and Maintain a Strong Client Base” is used as the course text for their professional development class over 7 to 9 sessions. [Note: Vivien Schapera was interviewed for the Business and Marketing Issue (Vol 3 No. 3).]The course covers practice management (running the business you have), marketing (bringing new business in the door), and professional development (staying engaged in your work and adding value to the services you offer so as to be worth more in the marketplace). Worksheets include strategies for setting fees; basic information on accounting and being in compliance with taxation; how to find out any business or professional licensing requirements based on what state or city your business is in; and how to write articles and develop promotional materials that address the interests and needs of specific populations, such as performers, people in pain, salespeople, etc.
ACAT Training School (image George Komiotis)As is the case with many training schools, third year trainees “teach” members of the training program initially and then gradually introduce their knowledge to the general public under strict supervision of the training directors. Lieb explains the process at ACAT as follows:
“Our students work with outside students during their third year of training while being supervised in class. Their first practice teaching is done with fairly experienced students (20 or more lessons or classes) and they work in subsequent terms with practice students that have less and less experience, so that in their final term, they are working with students who have no prior experience. They are also invited to observe and sometimes assist at group classes taught by our faculty and graduates of our program. During the final term, candidates work with at least one student outside of the training class, and may teach up to five lessons per week, two of those being under supervision. They are encouraged to charge a nominal fee to three of their students in the final term, as well. This supports them in building a practice, while having the support of faculty to address teaching and business management issues that come up.”
Richard Brennan’s training program also includes a live-in residential course with the general public:
“…at the end of each academic year, students attend a week’s residential course with up to 15 people who do not know about the technique. Here, the students have first-hand experience about how to deal with brand new people. We also have three ‘Open Weeks’ a year at the college where people who have had little or no experience of the technique can come and work with the students.”
Galit Zeif with trainee teachersGalit Zeif [Bodythought]:“In addition to the basic training, the course includes: 60-hour course in human body anatomy and physiology, workshops with Rivka Cohen (one of the senior Alexander teachers in the world today) and Summer School with John Hunter in Spain (one week of intensive and diverse Alexander technique workshop with some of the best teachers in Europe). Outside the above training there is an extra year of apprenticeship in the Bodythought centre.”
The exposure of graduates to specialised audiences is a feature of the ACAT program––being based in New York, ACAT obviously brings the benefits of a massive performing community to the front door. Lieb explains:
“…towards the latter part of the course [trainees] assist in group classes taught by faculty members and graduates of the school, either with the general public or in educational settings, acting and music being the most common, for example: The Open Center, The New School, The 92nd Street Y, The Arthritis Foundation or in educational settings such as The New School and Circle in the Square.”
BONUSES
Listen to a live interview conducted with Brooke Lieb, director of training at ACAT. Recorded 26th January 2010, 60 minutes.
Tipping Points by Brooke Lieb, Lugano International Congress Presentation 2008: Download Here
ACAT Anatomy / Physiology Curriculum, generously provided by Judith Stern.
Excerpts and bonus material from Volume 3 No. 7: Schools of Thought Issue (Purchase here)
