That moment. That moment right before you speak. That enormous, pregnant, monumental precipice. What started with an impulse turned to a thought, an expression, a breath, vibrations, resonance, articulation and finally: release. Words. Language. Sound. Your innermost self escaping and flying into the ether.
It can be nerve wracking. (Believe me, I know.)
The urge to communicate is fundamental, and sound is a profoundly physical way of reaching out: we use our voices to create sound vibrations that are amplified, shaped, focused and then released, winging their way to another person’s ear where they resonate, bounce around and get interpreted. And it happens so fast! Seemingly quicker than thought. Sound.
At least, that’s how it works on a good day.
On an off day? Well… we tend to get in our own way. We carry tension that stymies our breath, we hold on rather than letting vibrations bounce around, we lock down our articulators. And a small, strangled sound escapes out our mouth, and we know, we know: it does not reflect the enormity of what is happening inside!
How much clearer we could be, how much more we could express and how much simpler the exchange if we could get out of our own way!
That’s where I come in. I specialize in forensics: figuring out where the ‘stops’ are happening and helping you begin to release. The work I do is cross-disciplinary. Your performance, your choices, affect your voice and your voice affects your choices. Accent and dialect work, when used, are a deep part of that performance.
We’ll start from where you are: breath support issues? learning an accent? trouble finding your character? Those are all brilliant places to begin. And from there we will discover how those tools shape, affect and feed the others.
Background
Have I done this before? Indeed I have. I’m an actor and a coach with a long track record of success. I have a BFA in Acting from Ithaca College, and have served as an acting, voice & speech and dialect coach in a variety of settings, from theatrical productions to film to studio training to private coaching. I’ve devised group classes and worked with individuals on special projects. I’ve worked with actors performing outdoor Shakespeare, Greek drama, and high comedy; and I’ve coached for film and voice over. I’ve worked with authors and musicians and corporate types as well. Style and size of performances may vary, but the fundamentals remain the same across the board.
Areas of Focus
Performance
Digging into the text to mine your connection to it, grounding your body and voice in that connection, which will allow you to perform with flexibility and deep sensitivity.
Voice
Strengthening and building the connections between impulse, thought, breath, vibrations, resonance, articulation and release. Relaxation and grounding in your natural voice, allowing it to be flexible, responsive and infinitely precise.
Accents
Fundamentals of sound changes, rhythm, placement and musicality, focusing particularly on the architecture of the mouth, confidence and increased facility. Connecting the accent or dialect to the text and the honesty of the performance.
Sessions & Availability
15-Minute Free Consult
On the fence? I’m happy to do a 15-minute free consult to learn just what you’re looking for and how we might work together.
30-Minute Check-in Session ($65)
This short session is specially designed for last-minute auditions or events, when you’re looking for an outside set of ears or a quick adjustment.
60-Minute Full Session ($110)
A full length session to work in-depth on strengthening specific skills.
Three 60-Minute Sessions ($300)
When you know you’re going to want to meet more than once, I offer a discount when you purchase a pack of three sessions.
Payable via PayPal, Zelle or Venmo, due in advance or within 24 hours of the session.
All sessions are conducted over Zoom or Skype.
Ready to schedule? Click here to drop me a line—let’s make it happen.
Overview
That moment. That moment right before you speak. That enormous, pregnant, monumental precipice. What started with an impulse turned to a thought, an expression, a breath, vibrations, resonance, articulation and finally: release. Words. Language. Sound. Your innermost self escaping and flying into the ether.
It can be nerve wracking. (Believe me, I know.)
The urge to communicate is fundamental, and sound is a profoundly physical way of reaching out: we use our voices to create sound vibrations that are amplified, shaped, focused and then released, winging their way to another person’s ear where they resonate, bounce around and get interpreted. And it happens so fast! Seemingly quicker than thought. Sound.
At least, that’s how it works on a good day.
On an off day? Well… we tend to get in our own way. We carry tension that stymies our breath, we hold on rather than letting vibrations bounce around, we lock down our articulators. And a small, strangled sound escapes out our mouth, and we know, we know: it does not reflect the enormity of what is happening inside!
How much clearer we could be, how much more we could express and how much simpler the exchange if we could get out of our own way!
That’s where I come in. I specialize in forensics: figuring out where the ‘stops’ are happening and helping you begin to release. The work I do is cross-disciplinary. Your performance, your choices, affect your voice and your voice affects your choices. Accent and dialect work, when used, are a deep part of that performance.
We’ll start from where you are: breath support issues? learning an accent? trouble finding your character? Those are all brilliant places to begin. And from there we will discover how those tools shape, affect and feed the others.
Background
Have I done this before? Indeed I have. I’m an actor and a coach with a long track record of success. I have a BFA in Acting from Ithaca College, and have served as an acting, voice & speech and dialect coach in a variety of settings, from theatrical productions to film to studio training to private coaching. I’ve devised group classes and worked with individuals on special projects. I’ve worked with actors performing outdoor Shakespeare, Greek drama, and high comedy; and I’ve coached for film and voice over. I’ve worked with authors and musicians and corporate types as well. Style and size of performances may vary, but the fundamentals remain the same across the board.
Areas of Focus
Performance
Digging into the text to mine your connection to it, grounding your body and voice in that connection, which will allow you to perform with flexibility and deep sensitivity.
Voice
Strengthening and building the connections between impulse, thought, breath, vibrations, resonance, articulation and release. Relaxation and grounding in your natural voice, allowing it to be flexible, responsive and infinitely precise.
Accents
Fundamentals of sound changes, rhythm, placement and musicality, focusing particularly on the architecture of the mouth, confidence and increased facility. Connecting the accent or dialect to the text and the honesty of the performance.
Sessions & Availability
15-Minute Free Consult
On the fence? I’m happy to do a 15-minute free consult to learn just what you’re looking for and how we might work together.
30-Minute Check-in Session ($65)
This short session is specially designed for last-minute auditions or events, when you’re looking for an outside set of ears or a quick adjustment.
60-Minute Full Session ($110)
A full length session to work in-depth on strengthening specific skills.
Three 60-Minute Sessions ($300)
When you know you’re going to want to meet more than once, I offer a discount when you purchase a pack of three sessions.
Payable via PayPal, Zelle or Venmo, due in advance or within 24 hours of the session.
All sessions are conducted over Zoom or Skype.
Ready to schedule? Click here to drop me a line—let’s make it happen.