Pedro de Alcantara studied at the State University of New York's Purchase College (BFA in Music, 1981) and the Yale School of Music (MM in Music Performance, 1983). His main cello teachers were Barney Lehrer, Robert Gardner, Daniel Morganstern, Aldo Parisot, and William Pleeth. He studied theory, analysis, ear-training, and chamber music with pianist and Harvard professor Robert Levin, and singing with the late Roy Hickman (a professor at the Guildhall School in London). The teachings of Cornelius L. Reid have also been a major influence on his understanding of the voice, the sensing and thinking processes and the art of pedagogy.

He trained as an Alexander teacher in London with Patrick Macdonald (who himself was trained by Alexander in the 1930's) and Shoshana Kaminitz. After obtaining his certification in 1986 he taught for three years at the Alexander Institute (directed by Dr. Wilfred Barlow, who was also trained by Alexander) before moving to Paris in 1990, where he still lives.

Pedro’s first two books, Indirect Procedures: A Musician’s Guide to the Alexander Technique and The Alexander Technique: A Skill for Life were published in 1997, and he has since taken his teachings all over the world, including the US, France, Great Britain, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand. He often receives return invitations from institutions such as the Royal College of Music in London, New York University, and the Conservatoire Populaire de Genève. He has also published several novels for different audiences.

His music students include members of first-rate orchestras such as the Orchestre National de Lille, the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, the Berlin Radio Orchestra, and many others. He has also coached concert pianists, singers, guitarists, accordionists, and even players of the tin whistle and didgeridoo.

He is currently editing and writing for a book series based on the musical philosophy he has developed over twenty-five years, and will include volumes for string players, singers, pianists, and other musicians. Yale School of Music awarded him a grant to support the dedicated website.

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