Speech Training, Articulation and Diction

Speech Training, Articulation and Diction are essential to my work as a vocal coach, both in speaking and singing. Being heard and just as importantly understood is the basis of all communication. The need for audibility and intelligibility used to be a central and unquestioned principle of actor voice training and valued in many other singing traditions. Sadly, this no longer seems to be the case.

It appears to be very much out of fashion to teach speech to actors and singers which I can only believe is because of a misunderstanding as to what it is, how to teach it and how to apply practically in performance, acting and singing.

The minimal requirement for any actor is to be audible and intelligible. Whichever accent the actor is required to act in, it needs to be at the very least comprehensible. This is also true in singing across genres. It is perfectly possibly to be understood without over articulating and sounding unnecessarily forced and unnatural. But to do this, you need to understand some basic principles of consonant production, how and where they are made and how to build into performance imaginatively and creatively.

The workshop will include:

• What is Speech Training, Articulation and Diction – clearing up misinformation
• Why is it needed?
• Where is needed?
• What does it buy you as an actor?
• Training and Practise – Building skills
• Why Diction is not the same as over articulating
• Diction as an acting tool in speaking and singing
• Short master class (time allowing)

Plus much more!!

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF ESTILL VOICE TRAINING NOT REQUIRED

Suitable For: For those new to the Estill Voice Training and those with experience; anyone working with the voice - SLTs, singing teachers, professional singers, students and amateurs; voice, speech & drama teachers; actors. Suitable for all styles of voice, singing & speaking