The MBMS Prelude Certification Program
2 Levels of In-Depth Training in Integrative Alexander Technique & Body Mapping for Music Teaching Professionals
New Cohort Begins Fall 2025.
(16 of 32 Spots Remaining)
Apply Now
“This program has totally transformed my teaching in so many ways.”
“I have gone from a very vague teacher to a very specific and informed teacher. I am learning a new more patient and kind way to teach. I am being given the tools to teach in a student-motivated way; encouraging them to ask questions and explore so that they are better equipped to learn on their own. I am learning how to teach my students to be more kind to themselves and grow in confidence. There is not an area of my teaching that hasn’t been made better because of my work in this program.”
Karen Archbold, Program Graduate
Dear Colleague,
Greetings!
MBMS Founder & Director Peter Jacobson here.
Thank you for stopping by to learn more about this program.
I was recently speaking to a graduate of this program, a very fine musician and teacher. He told me: “What I learned in Prelude was the missing piece in my teaching. Not only has my physical and mental health improved, I’m now a much more effective teacher as a result of this work."
This program is designed to fill a major gap in our music education system. It offers essential information and practical training in how to free the whole Self (mind-body-spirit) in music learning, performing and teaching.
Past participants report becoming more mentally clear, physically free, creatively inspired, socially connected and spiritually alive.
In this program, you first learn how to integrate Alexander and Body Mapping principles into your own artistic work and life. Then, as you gain fluency with the work, you will be able to share it with your students, providing newfound depth and impact to your music instruction.
You might be wondering – why is it called Prelude? First, this program is designed to be the beginning of a new way of life where you are a more poised, authentic and joyful version of yourself. Second, this program serves as the prerequisite to MBMS Pro, our 4-year Integrative Music Education & Performance/Alexander Technique teacher training program (for those that want to go even deeper into the work).
A few more things to know:
- An essential part of the program is the community, which offers the kind of support, connection and accountability we all need to be our best selves and do our best work. Many past participants report the quality of the community was one of the most impactful aspects of the program.
- Because most Prelude students are busy professionals, flexibility and accessibility are built into the program. You have the option of completing Level I only (September – December 2025) or continuing on to Level II (January – May 2026). Additionally, we offer multiple class sections each week as well as live training weekends in various regions of the United States.
- This is not a program where you get lost in the crowd. We limit the community to 32 students so each person gets plenty of attention and feels like they are an important part of the learning community.
- The program is built on the core values of rigor and excellence, cooperation and collaboration, respect for everyone’s unique journey, kindness and belonging.
If you feel resonance with what you read here on this page, here are 3 possible next steps:
To Your Health & Success!
In Music,
Peter Jacobson
Founder & Director
Mind Body Music School
"For my pleasant surprise, class by class I realized that I was actually (re)learning not only how to use and access my body but to get in deeper touch with myself as a whole..."
"...my psychophysic - and may I add, cultural, social, ancestral - unity, with softness, subtlety and kindness; a way to learn through process and not results."
Victor Castelo, Program Graduate
Who This Program Is For
This program is geared primarily towards instrumental or vocal music teaching professionals who are seeking new ideas, tools and inspiration through a structured learning program.
(NOTE: We do have a few spots reserved for musicians who are not currently teachers but who are interested in the art and craft of music teaching.)
If any of these statements resonate with you, this program could be a good fit:
- I am tired of constantly being stressed out and overwhelmed from burning the candle at both ends.
- There must be a better, more sane way of doing things.
- I want to live a healthier life – physically, mentally, creatively and financially.
- I’m ready to make room in my life for my own music.
- I want to build meaningful relationships with other like-minded music professionals.
- I have a lot more to give to the world but feel like I need some help getting it out of me.
- I'm ready to make some changes in how I do my work and my life.
The promise of the program is deep growth and transformation. In order to fulfill on that promise, it's essential that you have the capacity to show up consistently along with a strong desire to learn and experiment with new ideas.
Finally, because community is such an integral part of this program, it’s important that you are interested in giving and receiving support inside your cohort. The application process ensures that the Prelude community consists of people with resonant values, priorities and attitudes.
“The most surprising and profound thing that I learned was recognizing that my primary job as a teacher is to first take care of myself.”
“To create the environment and do the things that support me and my own well being and coordination. That it is only when we are grounded in this as the central focus that we will be able to make space for and be present with our students, to really listen to them and respond to what they desire to learn. And in modeling our own well being and coordination we are providing them with a lasting gift...that they, too, can be with themselves and 'come home to themselves' and that this is always available to them, to all of us."
Natalie Ford Sajdak, Program Graduate
Your Health
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Learn how your body is designed to move most efficiently and naturally
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Learn effective ways to reduce pain and unnecessary tension
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Feel a greater sense of well-being even during stressful times
Your Artistry
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Redefine and update your musical purpose
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Learn healthy practice strategies that deepen learning
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Learn lasting and effective solutions to deal with performing-related fear and anxiety
Your Teaching
- Experience greater vitality and energy throughout your teaching day
- Help your students solve problems more effectively
- Experience more ease and spaciousness in your teaching
"This work has come at such an opportune time, and it is permeating my whole life and being."
"My teaching life, my professional life, my health, my students, everything. It's time to slow down, to stop ignoring my whole self or isolating one part, and it's time to work to let my body (and the bodies of my students) be whole again."
Tiffany Owens, Program Graduate
How the Program Works
The MBMS Prelude Program is divided into 2 levels of study.
- Level I requires 40 hours of study and can be done entirely online.
- Level II requires 80 hours of study and requires 2 days of in-person training in addition to online classes and coursework.
- 80% of your hours must be earned synchronously, in real-time (online or in-person).
The program consists of 3 main components:
- Online Classes (Required)
- Online Events (Optional)
- In-Person Training Weekends (Level II Only)
1. Online Classes (Required)
- Weekly Community Classes (2 hours) – these classes will consist of individual coaching, group activities and games, class discussions, breakout groups and more.
- Weekly Enrichment Classes (1 hour) – we will alternate weekly between 2 kinds of enrichment classes:
- Teaching Labs – an opportunity to deepen into the art and craft of teaching
- Life & Career Mastermind – get coaching and support on your personal and professional challenges
- Monthly Special Topic Workshops with Guest Teachers (90 minutes) – every month you will have the opportunity to learn from a guest teacher who will present a workshop on a special topic
2. Online Events (Optional)
- Weekly Flex Time Sessions – co-working or co-practicing time, which is great for accountability
- Monthly Community Open Mics – an opportunity to share yourself and your music with the Prelude community
- Quarterly Listening Parties – bring a favorite piece of music to share with the group
3. In-Person Training Weekends (Level II Only)
- As part of your Level II studies, you will be required to attend an in-person, regional training weekends (exceptions will be made for members who are in locations or situations where it’s just not possible to make it work).
- The training weekends include the added benefit of touch communication, a powerful aspect of Alexander work.
- Because of the quality of friendship and trust that develops in these weekends, they usually end up being one of the highlights for program participants.
An Important Note
Students who complete the program requirements will be awarded an official certificate of study for each level they complete. These certificates will signify that you have a basic intellectual and embodied understanding of Alexander Technique and Body Mapping principles and their application to music education and performance.
This program does NOT certify you as a teacher of the Alexander Technique.
However, after completing the Prelude program you have the option of applying for MBMS Pro, our 3-4 year teaching training program.
"The greatest gift this program has given me is to understand the simplicity that in honoring ourselves, we open up a world of possibility."
"More importantly, this program helped me realize that most of the things and people I feel responsible for are of my own construct. That by letting go of that responsibility, I actually empower them to take ownership over their own journeys. This has been extremely exciting and groundbreaking in my teaching. My students now understand that they are in charge of their own learning. My only job was to look after myself, to honour myself and to be at 'play.' I am there as a guide, but we are exploring together the skills we need to be aware and to teach ourselves. "
Cara Gilbertson, Program Graduate
Level I
Healthy Music Making: Foundations in Integrative Alexander Technique & Body Mapping for Musicians
40 hours of study
Level I is all about gaining fluency in two synergistic areas of study: Integrative Alexander Technique and Body Mapping.
Integrative Alexander Technique
Like all the work we do in MBMS, this course takes an integrative approach to the Alexander Technique. That means the work is integrated into your music-making from the start.
At the center of this approach is the Integrative Alexander Process, a framework for conscious, constructive thinking and planning. This process consists of 6 core practices:
- Articulate Your Desire
- Remember Wholeness
- Ask for Move-Ability
- Invite Coordination
- Clarify Activity Plan
- Experiment
We’ll also explore the following topics:
- Alexander Technique origins, theory and science
- The Unified Field of Awareness – experiencing the oneness of each moment
- Kinesthetic and sensory awareness – enlivening and refining the senses
- Body freedom – pain, strain & tension relief
Body Mapping for Musicians
As musicians, we translate movement into sound. But in order to move our body well, we have to understand how it’s designed to function best.
Body Mapping is a study of human structure and design. unlike many anatomy courses that focus on learning the names of muscles and bones, you will learn how to embody anatomical information through an exploration of the activities that make up a musician's life such as standing, sitting, breathing, playing, singing, practicing and performing. Each of these activities will be a doorway into a whole world of learning about human anatomy, physical design and easeful movement.
By the end of Level I, you will have an accurate body “map” which will open up new possibilities for your music making and teaching.
Level I Reading Material
- Onstage Synergy: Integrative Alexander Technique Practice for Performing Artists by Cathy Madden (Part I Only)
- The Body in Motion: Its Evolution and Design by Ted Dimon
- The Use of the Self by F.M. Alexander (Chapter 1 Only)
Level II
Healthy Practice & Performance: How to Optimize Your Music Learning & Performing Skills
80 hours of study
Building on Level I foundational work, Level II is an in-depth exploration of two fundamental aspects of the musical arts: learning (via music practice) & communication (via music performance).
Healthy Music Practice
Explore the most healthy and productive way to practice, including topics like:
- Redefining practice to be more expansive and inclusive
- Adopting the mindset of healthy, expert music learners
- How passion, purpose and curiosity propel us towards musical fluency
- Why clear goals are essential to practicing success
- Deliberate Practice – why it is considered the gold standard of skill acquisition
- How play supports deeper learning
- Structuring and designing your practice session for optimal results
- The importance of rituals, warm-ups, breaks, transitions, and self-reflection
Healthy Music Performance
Concurrent with your study of healthy music practice, you'll also be exploring healthy music performance from various perspectives:
- Spiritual – how to create a transcendent experience for the listener
- Physical – holistic strategies for overcoming performance anxiety and fear
- Emotional – how to express the emotional message of the music without getting overwhelmed by emotion
- Mental – effective ways to work with your inner critics
- Musical – how to best prepare for a performance
- Social – how to welcome the audience into your joy
By the end of Level II you'll have a detailed and personalized master performance plan that can be used in any performing situation.
Level II Reading Material
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Onstage Synergy: Integrative Alexander Technique Practice for Performing Artists by Cathy Madden (Parts II & III);
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How to Learn the Alexander Technique by Barbara Conable
- Various Articles & Excerpts (which will be provided)
“I have gone from being unaware of what is really causing my tension and fatigue to now seeing it all the time."
"I have become aware of movements I have made my entire life and how wonderful and amazing our bodies are. I have found as I delve into this new way of thinking, or relearning my body map, that there so many more parts to it than I was aware. The body is truly an amazing design and I am excited to keep exploring!”
Jamey Ruiz McClellan, Program Graduate
Program Dates
Level I (12 Weeks)
- September 8th – December 13th, 2025 (no classes the weeks of October 20th and November 24th)
Level II (18 Weeks)
- January 5th – May 30th, 2026 (no classes the weeks of February 16th, February 23rd and March 30th)
Online Class & Event Schedule
Weekly Prelude Community Classes (Choose One):
- Class A: Tuesdays @ 10:00am - 12:00pm Central | 11:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern
- Class B: Thursdays @ 1:00pm - 3:00pm Central | 2:00pm - 4:00pm Eastern
Weekly Enrichment Sessions (Choose One):
- Session A: Wednesdays @ 12:00pm - 1:00pm Central | 1:00pm - 2:00pm Eastern
- Session B: Saturdays @ 1:00pm - 2:00pm Central | 2:00pm - 3:00pm Eastern
Monthly Special Topic Workshops with Guest Teachers
- Dates & Times To Be Determined
Weekly Flex Time Sessions (Optional)
- Mondays @ 9:00am - 10:00am Central | 10:00am - 11:00am Eastern
- Fridays @ 1:00pm - 2:00pm Central | 2:00pm - 3:00pm Eastern
Weekly Open Mics & Quarterly Listening Parties (Optional)
- Dates & Times To Be Determined
In-Person Training Events
2025 Events
- September 13th & 14th in Twin Cities, Minnesota
- October 11th & 12th in San Francisco, California
- November 8th & 9th in Detroit, Michigan
2026 Events
- January 17th & 18th in Baltimore, Maryland
- February 16th-20th (Winter Retreat) in Finland, Minnesota
- March 28th & 29th in New York City, New York
- April 25th & 26th in Boston, Massachusetts
- May 30th & 31st in Twin Cities, Minnesota
“This program helped me to gain confidence in my inner intelligence and my innate ability to make music, and my desire to help other singers of all ages and levels attain a more joyful, playful way to approach vocalizing.”
“It has been my greatest joy to be gifted this holistic way of singing and to now have the opportunity to offer that gift to my students. I have been amazed at the discoveries and growth I see in them. Studying more about the complexity of our anatomical structures has helped me to understand how our design affects my ability to vocalize. Being introduced to the Alexander Technique has helped me to realize how habits of interference inhibit my ability to sing with ease. I have found a way to return to the joyful ease of singing. My hope is to help light the way for other singers who long to follow a similar path.”
Tiffany Cadenhead, Program Graduate
Prelude Faculty & Guest Teachers
MBMS Founder Peter Jacobson is the program director and primary instructor. He will be assisted by Juliana Marin and Okan Sipahioğlu, two graduates of the program and certified Alexander Technique teachers. You can learn more about the Prelude teaching team here.
Potential guest teachers include: Jeremy Chance, Pedro de Alcantara, Michael Hanko, Cathy Madden, Jennifer Johnson, Mari Hodges, Greg Holdaway and Molly Gebrian.
“I am so glad that I decided to sign up for this program."
“I have learned much more that benefits my everyday life beyond music. I am super excited to continue to work with the techniques shared. It excites me to already see a difference in my lifestyle. I can only imagine what more exploration would do and what future courses would offer. All in all, it comes down to my choice to make the change for the better. Thank you Peter for your choice to share this information with others."
Rose Sanders, Program Graduate
Program Tuition
Level I Tuition: $1,200
• $35 application fee + $165 deposit ($200)
• 5 automated monthly payments of $200 ($1,000)
Level II Tuition: $2,400
• 6 automated monthly payments of $300 ($1,800)
• In-Person Training Weekend Fee ($600)
Your Tuition Does NOT Include:
• Book costs (roughly $100 for both levels)
• Travel, lodging and meals costs for in-person training weekend
Work Study Scholarships
We offer limited need-based work study scholarships up to 50% of tuition. To receive scholarship funding you must have the capacity to participate fully in the program and be able to say, in good faith, that you wouldn't be able to participate without financial assistance. Your work study duties will require 1-2 hours work per week and will be based on your skill set and gifts. You can indicate your interest in a work study scholarship on the application form.
If you have any questions about tuition or work study scholarships, please email program director Peter Jacobson.
How to Apply
To ensure fit and the integrity of the learning community, acceptance into the program is by application only.
After you complete your application, Peter will be in touch within 2 business days to talk about next steps.
Apply Now