VOICE TRAINING
What is voice training?
Voice training is for everyone. As children, our voice is directly connected to these impulses, and we speak instinctively with ease, efficiency and economy. Unfortunately, as we grow up, the important process of socialisation and acculturation can make us question, doubt and even fear the communication of our impulses and so negative and limiting physiological voice and speech habits manifest.
The demands and stresses of communicating ourselves increase when forging our personal and professional identities in early adulthood, and what was once a clear, open and resonant voice can become reduced and limited to a tense and inarticulate shadow of its former self.
In addition, the way our body develops also impacts on the freedom of our voice and speech, through habits and activities that affect the efficiency of our alignment, breathing and muscles of articulation. So it's not just about your vocal cords! And voice coaches help you with all these things.
Who is it for?
A voice course can help anyone who is interested in freeing their spoken voice. Voice is for many people, their chief means of self-expression - our thoughts, ideas and feelings.
A speaking voice coach can help you learn about...
Physical release, grounding and alignment
Breathing awareness, capacity, techniques
Voice quality
Resonance and range
Articulation and clarity exercises
Speaking with ease, filling a space
Reaching your listeners, projection
Detailed work on a speech, presentation or message
Developing authenticity
Personal connection and rapport
Sight-reading, using prompt cards, planning speeches
developing vocal warm ups
Overcoming phobia, nerves, fear and anxiety
Developing confidence
Voice training for teachers
Develop authority, confidence, range
Clarity and vocal stamina
Communication and presentation skills techniques
Who will coach me?
Ashley Howard MA
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MA Voice Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
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15+ Years experience coaching individuals of all positions in many businesses and organisations: Microsoft, Cisco, Barclays, Prudential, DLA Piper etc...
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Published author and mentor
Professional Voice Coach
What clients say about Ashley...
Jane Gray, Master NLP practitioner, coach and licensed DICS Trainer
“I was looking for a voice coach near me. Ashley's knowledge and obvious passion for this craft inspired and motivated me to give 100% effort during our sessions. I was thrilled to have a tool box of techniques and voice exercises, which I could use in terms of breathing, emphasis and pace. I found that not only is Ashley a brilliant voice coach, he is also a thoroughly lovely man whom I would recommend without reservation.”
Alessandro S, IBM Research, Italian
“I wanted to get ride of my native accent. We have started from the basic sounds of the English language, followed by words, sentences intonation and stress. Every step of the way, Ashley was able to point out mistakes, sometimes very subtle ones, (I was often surprised by his ability to detect them over Skype!) and make me understanding how to produce the correct sounds and intonation. I found our sessions extremely helpful.”
Dr Jayaram, Consultant Psychiatrist Indian
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with you over the last few months to enhance my speaking capabilities and modulate my accent. I was quite impressed by your professionalism right from the start. It would be a delight to work with you again.”
How do voice lessons work?
Assessment - Ashley identifies your specific vocal habits and sets out how to change them.
In this voice training course you are helped to notice the natural resonance of your voice and how to develop more depth and power.
Develop Awareness - knowing what you do and how you do it is the empowering and puts you in charge of your habits.
Voice classes help you develop confidence and Impact. Discover the source of your confidence and how to think clearly so that you speak with impact.
Clear Speech - Discover how to speak clearly so that every word you say is heard and understood. And if English is your second language, learn which words may be confusing your listener and how to change them.
Imitation and Repetition - sometimes you have to be shown what to do and how to do it until the new skills become familiar and habitual. Ashley patiently guides you towards establishing the new techniques.
How to Study Voice and Speech Training?
Voice Coach London & Stroud
He offers face-to-face voice coaching classes in Stroud, which is in Gloucestershire, England, UK. If you are unsure about committing to voice course, he can recommend voice training software, books and a voice training app.
Online Voice Coach
He offers voice training online through Skype. Through Skype, he has coached nationally and internationally.
Enquire Now
As a professional voice coach I have coached people from 98 countries...
From cities and regions like...
UAE, Poland, Spain, Mexico, Kenya, Hungry, China, India, United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Russia, Japan, Mexico, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, South Africa etc...
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Dublin, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Paris, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Warsaw, Moscow, Colombo, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and closer to home places like Manchester, London, Kent, Brighton, Surrey, Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Essex, Birmingham, Cambridgeshire, Sheffield and many more.
What other clients say about Ashley...
Katherine Kyle Entrepreneur
“We worked through a series of eye opening exercises, and it really got me to look at words in a whole new way. I learned so much... After a few sessions I had made a massive improvement. I can now look at a piece of writing and know that I can speak it confidently, with emphasis, enthusiasm and authority. Working with Ashley has given me the confidence to do regular promotional videos for my business, webinars and a lot more public speaking, which is exactly what I wanted. I would recommend Ashley to anybody as he is truly the best at what he does. When you get started, you'll see what I mean.”
Luke Cascone Engineering Student
“I just wanted to let you know the profound effect it has had on my life. The confidence brought about from working together, and the realisation that I have the ability to change and improve things about myself, that I thought were fixed, has been huge. Not only can I now speak confidently and clearly, but my outlook towards the world has changed for the better - so thank you.”
Have you realised that
you're actually more interested in...
Accent Reduction
Accent Reduction coaching helps you to reduce your accent towards a Standard Southern British English accent or a Neutral American English accent.
Elocution
Elocution coaching helps you to be a clearer speaker. Whether it pace of speech, volume, articulation or rambling, Ashley helps you to make every word heard.
ARE YOU A BUSINESS?
Find out about hiring a
Voice Coach for Business
Effective communication, whether it's one to one, in a team meeting, in a pitch or an annual conference, is vital for building good relationships, having productive meetings and inevitably for profitability.
Ashley has designed and lead bespoke courses for individuals and groups at various locations throughout the UK and abroad as well as online via Skype.
Reach out to discuss your needs.
Not sure what you want? Contact Ashley
If your are interested in finding out more about voice training and speech coaching and mentoring for either personal or professional reasons, please call or send Ashley an email and he'll chat through how he can help, as well as discussing his fees and availability.
He is also available for courses, workshops and lectures. If you're just looking for some advice, tips, ideas or relevant topics, check out his blog.
One more thing...
He is a speaking voice coach, not a singing voice coach, although he has helped numerous singers achieve a healthier and freer singing voice. He has coached many voice over actors, helping them to improve their range, repertoire of voices and vocal presence.
If you are interested in the role of voice coach, or how to become a voice coach, or how to find a local voice teacher, please get in touch and he'll be happy to help.
Also, if you are looking for a voice coach online, or an internet voice coach, he is able to offer some services and classes via skype, which has proved very popular and effective.