Private LessonsLaura maintains a small practice for private Alexander Technique lessons in Madison, WI.
Please use the contact form to inquire about rates, location, availability and scheduling information, or any other questions you may have. |
Group WorkshopsLaura is available to present Alexander Technique workshops for your department or organization, both in person and virtually. Workshop topics can be introductory in nature, or more specific to meet the needs and interests of the participants. Workshops are interactive, using individual and partnered movements to explore Alexander principles and how to apply them to activities, from daily life to on stage performances.
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Through her own experience with debilitating tendonitis, Laura came to the Alexander Technique in search of physical relief, and discovered a philosophical approach to mind/body awareness and habit-changing that has enhanced her musical practice, performance, teaching, and daily life. She earned her teaching certification from the Alexander Technique Center Urbana, under the direction of Joan and Alex Murray, and has been teaching AT for nearly 25 years. |
About Alexander Technique
What is the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique is an educational method used worldwide for well over 100 years. By teaching how to change faulty postural habits, it enables improved mobility, posture, performance and alertness along with relief of chronic stiffness, tension and stress.
Why do people study the Alexander Technique?
People study the Technique for a variety of reasons. The most common is to relieve pain through learning better coordination of the musculoskeletal system. Another reason people take lessons in the Alexander Technique is to enhance performance. Athletes, singers, dancers, and musicians use the Technique to improve breathing, vocal production, and speed and accuracy of movement.
Most of us have many habitual patterns of tension, learned both consciously and unconsciously. These patterns can be unlearned, enabling the possibility of new choices in posture, movement and reaction. During lessons you'll develop awareness of habits that interfere with your natural coordination. You'll learn how to undo these patterns and develop the ability to consciously redirect your whole self into an optimal state of being and functioning. Through direct experience you’ll learn how to go about your daily activities with increasingly greater ease and less effort.
How do I learn the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique is typically taught through a series of private lessons. Over a course of lessons, your teacher introduces concepts and practices that expand your awareness of the functioning of your nervous system, muscular system and skeletal system. You’ll learn to restore optimal poise, balance and ease in overall functioning.
Read more at the American Society for the Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique is an educational method used worldwide for well over 100 years. By teaching how to change faulty postural habits, it enables improved mobility, posture, performance and alertness along with relief of chronic stiffness, tension and stress.
Why do people study the Alexander Technique?
People study the Technique for a variety of reasons. The most common is to relieve pain through learning better coordination of the musculoskeletal system. Another reason people take lessons in the Alexander Technique is to enhance performance. Athletes, singers, dancers, and musicians use the Technique to improve breathing, vocal production, and speed and accuracy of movement.
Most of us have many habitual patterns of tension, learned both consciously and unconsciously. These patterns can be unlearned, enabling the possibility of new choices in posture, movement and reaction. During lessons you'll develop awareness of habits that interfere with your natural coordination. You'll learn how to undo these patterns and develop the ability to consciously redirect your whole self into an optimal state of being and functioning. Through direct experience you’ll learn how to go about your daily activities with increasingly greater ease and less effort.
How do I learn the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique is typically taught through a series of private lessons. Over a course of lessons, your teacher introduces concepts and practices that expand your awareness of the functioning of your nervous system, muscular system and skeletal system. You’ll learn to restore optimal poise, balance and ease in overall functioning.
Read more at the American Society for the Alexander Technique
Workshop Testimonials
Dr. Laura Medisky taught an AT workshop to the GSU School of Music woodwinds, as well as an oboe/AT masterclass for the GSU oboists. Dr. Medisky engaged the students with her personal story of finding Alexander Technique as well as the AT philosophy. She demonstrated the techniques with several students, and had many asking for private lessons following her workshop. There was a remarkable improvement with all the students she worked with, and I wish she had enough time and arms to be able to work with every student on an individual basis. We would love to have her visit again at GSU, and the students and I greatly benefited from her visit.
~ Dr. Lara Saville Dahl, Georgia State University
Dr. Medisky’s Alexander Technique workshop was immensely helpful for the students in our wind conducting graduate program. They became immediately more aware of their bodies and how to use them effectively.
~ Robert Ambrose, Georgia State University
Laura Medisky's 2012 Alexander Technique Residency at Bowling Green State University's College of Musical Arts was a tremendous success and produced many lasting benefits. She taught several master classes and about 30 private lessons to music students. Laura is an extremely effective teacher and is especially well-suited to working with musicians as she is a fine musician herself and is experienced working with musicians. I recommend her very highly.
~ Jacqueline Leclair, Schulich School of Music of McGill University
~ Dr. Lara Saville Dahl, Georgia State University
Dr. Medisky’s Alexander Technique workshop was immensely helpful for the students in our wind conducting graduate program. They became immediately more aware of their bodies and how to use them effectively.
~ Robert Ambrose, Georgia State University
Laura Medisky's 2012 Alexander Technique Residency at Bowling Green State University's College of Musical Arts was a tremendous success and produced many lasting benefits. She taught several master classes and about 30 private lessons to music students. Laura is an extremely effective teacher and is especially well-suited to working with musicians as she is a fine musician herself and is experienced working with musicians. I recommend her very highly.
~ Jacqueline Leclair, Schulich School of Music of McGill University
Previous Workshops
Universities and Music Departments
- UW-Madison Musician Health and Wellness Series
- Edgewood College Music Department
- Brigham Young University woodwind studios
- Oklahoma State University School of Music
- UW-Madison: Continuing Studies courses; Dance Department, Somatic Theory and Practice Course; Healthful Piano Techniques Course; Optimal Performance Seminar
- UW-Whitewater: Music Department; Flute Studio; Flute Camp; Trumpet studio
- UW-Eau Claire: School of Music; Summer Double Reed Camp
- UW-Stevens Point Music Department
- Georgia State University: Music Department; Conducting class; Winds & Brass areas, Strings & Piano areas
- University of Nebraska Omaha School of Music
- University of Iowa School of Music
- Bowling Green State University (OH) Music Department
- Luther College Music Department
- Maranatha Baptist University Music Department
- Marian University (WI) Music Department
- Idyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CA
Camps and Festivals
- IDRS Annual Conferences: (2017 Appleton, WI; 2016 Columbus, GA; 2014 New York)
- Chicago Double Reed Fest
- Ball State University, Oboe Day
- Southeast Missouri State University, Double Reed Day
- Wisconsin Flute Festival, “Musicians Health Panel” speaker, Madison, WI
- Festival Música das Esferas, Bragança Paulista, SP, Brazil
- Double or Nothing Reed Camp, Dayton, OH
- Idaho Civic Orchestra String Boot Camp, Pocatello, ID
- WMTA Annual Conference, La Crosse, WI
- MTNA Collegiate Chapter, UW-Madison
Other organizations
- Children Theater of Madison Advanced Actors’ Academy
- Midwest Musical Imports, Minneapolis, MN
- Maven Vocal Arts, Madison, WI
- Connected Riding, Mt. Horeb, WI
- Private music studios