Demystifying Research: Evaluating the Efficacy of the Feldenkrais Method®
Thursday 8th May 2025, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (London Time)
The Feldenkrais Method® belongs to a class of somatic methods often used in the voice studio to facilitate more efficient use of the body. In this age of ‘evidence-based practice’, it is important for the studio teacher/pedagogue/performer to be able to evaluate research claims. A basic understanding of research methods and biases inherent in the research process is necessary to properly evaluate their conclusions, especially if the research findings influence studio practice.
This course will explore some of the central principles of the Feldenkrais Method in terms of the science of the mid-20th century when they were developed as well as their validation based on contemporary advances in our understanding of neuroscience. Through the lens of modern neuroscience, we will examine a few peer-reviewed efficacy studies in the light the constraints of validity, reliability and objectivity.
Research methods may vary depending on the nature of the research or research question. In broad terms, research is either Quantitative, data statistically derived from experiments or surveys, or Qualitative, based on interviews, documents, or other human interactions. Most of the research involving efficacy of learning methods are quantitative. These types of studies are very effective when dealing with cause and effect such as in chemical interactions. However, when they involve human behaviour, such as in a study involving throwing a baseball, or somatic method such as Yoga or the Feldenkrais Method®, there are often too many variables to conclude reliable recuring outcomes. Validity and reliability depend on exact replication of results. Objectivity depends on neutral metrics, usually numerical values. Thus, many studies, as we shall see, claim that the methods studied are not as effective as claimed, because cause and effect is not easily measurable.
Marina Gilman
Marina Gilman holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Indiana University, Master of Music degree from Ithaca College, and a Masters of Art in Communication Disorders...
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
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We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
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This six-week course is an opportunity to learn about both Received Pronunciation and Standard Southern British English. Rather than a course in learning how to speak RP/SSBE (there are many brilliant available courses for this already), this course is about learning how to coach it.
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Stanislavski said, “our artistic emotions are, at first, as shy as wild animals and they hide in the depths of our souls.” Michael Chekhov said, our bodies should be like a “sensitive membrane, a kind of receiver and conveyor of the subtlest images, feelings, emotions and will impulses.” And Meisner said we should be “living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” Join Louisa Morgan in this 2-part course as she explores a range of well-known acting practitioners to investigate what they believed (or believe) about emotion and how they approached it in their work. She'll compare their work to see where they align and where they diverge.
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Abigail Sugden
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