Melbourne 1889–1904 F. Matthias Alexander

the australian building, melbourne, left, fm alexander taught technique.

freed vocal problems, alexander gave clerical jobs , embarked on career professional reciter , voice teacher. commenced in 1894 tour of native tasmania, included unhappy visit family. parents financial situation precarious, , had been affected death of infant son in 1893; father turned alcohol result. according alexander, father , son quarrelled, john alexander expressing disapproval of son vagabond , strolling player , , there no record of them ever meeting again. otherwise, tour success, excellent press reviews , performance before governor of tasmania in hobart, concert in robert , edith young, whom had met years earlier @ watarah, appeared. trio developed close friendship. besides giving recitals, gave elocution lessons . in 1895, set out new zealand visited various cities, giving recitals excellent reviews , voice lessons several prominent individuals, including frederic villiers , mayor of auckland. despite being advised go america seek fortune, returned melbourne, intention of teaching new method there. in 1896, alexander rented teaching rooms in landmark building on elizabeth st, known australian building. advertised voice lessons in press , pamphlets, claiming both develop voice , cure stuttering , throat ailments. in pamphlets pupils, in days clergymen, enthusiastically testified improvements in voice , general health, , doctors reported patients sent him had improved. within year, alexander invited younger brother albert redden alexander (known a.r.) join him assistant; followed sister, amy, came receive medical problems, trained in work. in tasmania, alexander s father drinking heavily, , family s economic situation bleak; towards end of year, alexander s mother , 3 of siblings arrived in melbourne, never return. alexander devoted himself teaching , practice, occasional recital. in 1899, alexander moved in old friends robert , edith young , formed of menage à trois, edith , alexander s affair accepted robert. trio organized theatrical entertainments in melbourne , in sydney alexander, , later youngs, moved in 1900. due in part edith young s ambitions professional actor, 1901 1903 alexander , youngs produced series of shakespearean plays, starring alexander , edith, , alexander s students in lesser roles. alexander spent of time on money-losing plays , shakespeare classes , little time teaching method. however, in 1902, approach impressed leading sydney surgeon, w. j. stewart mckay, helped him referrals , became close friend. perhaps result, alexander s method (and advertising) focussed more on medical issues, including tuberculosis. mckay encouraged alexander develop medical knowledge attending classes @ medical school, proved poor student. mckay recommended alexander go london, , offered give him introductions leading doctors there. alexander in debt, financial problems alleviated when won ₤750 horse racing bet. allowed him pay off of creditors, provide support female relatives , buy passage england. sailed melbourne in april 1904, , not return.