the natural voice
freeing
A 6 weekend course in Stroud from September 2024
to April 2025 that will free the full expressive range, depth, power and clarity of your spoken voice
Iris Warren, Kristin Linklater and Ashley Howard
Freeing The Natural Voice is a voice method for anyone who wants to work on their spoken voice and was originated by pioneering voice coach Iris Warren in the 1930s. Iris changed the shape of voice work in the UK by asserting that voice is psychophysical; it is as much a psychological phenomena as it is physiological. She was interested in freeing the person through their voice not just liberating the instrument. In the early 60s her protégé Kristin Linklater took Iris's work to America, where it is now revered at the preeminent approach to training the spoken voice.
Kristin's 60 year career saw her publication of Freeing The Natural Voice and training of over 200 designated Linklater teachers worldwide, of which Ashley Howard, the voice coach leading this course, is one. Ashley has been teaching for 18 years, and became a designated Linklater teacher 15 years ago. He has a global private practice and is also the head of voice at the world-renowned actor training conservatoire, The Oxford School Of Drama. This course with Ashley takes you through the complete Linklater progression, freeing your full expressive range, depth, clarity and connection so that you feel confident when you speak.
to free the voice is to free the person
Weekend One
Freeing the body, breath and vibration
Physical Awareness
The spine, the support of the natural breathing ... a tree
Experience your body freer of unwanted tension, balanced and aligned, with a centred breath and vibration that begins to wake up and flow through the body.
Breathing Awareness
Freeing the breath, the source of sound ... the air
The Touch Of Sound
Initial vibrations ... pool of water
Freeing Vibrations
Lips, head, body ... river of sound
Weekend Two
Freeing the jaw, tongue, soft palate
Freeing the Channel: Jaw
Jaw awareness and relaxation, getting rid of tension ... prison gate or open door
Freeing the Channel: Tongue
Tongue awareness, stretching, loosening, releasing ... story-teller
Freeing The Channel: Soft Palate
Opening and limbering the soft palate ... space
Experience freedom and looseness in your jaw, tongue and soft palate, getting rid of the gatekeepers so as to liberate your full voice.
the thought moves the breath
the breath moves the body
Weekend Three
Opening the throat and freeing deep resonance
The Spine and the Channel
Connection ... source, journey, destination
Experience the depth and resonance of your voice, feeling it reverberate from your belly through a wide open throat and out, filling the space with ease.
Throat Awareness
The open throat ... chasm
Developing and Strengthening
Finding resonance, chest, mouth, teeth ... purple, blue, yellow
Releasing the Voice from the Body
Calling, triads, the rainbow
Breathing Power
Diaphragm, intercostals, pelvic floor ... breathing gym
Sensitivity and Strength
Enlivening and strengthening impulses ... free weights
Weekend Four
Freeing your full breath capacity
Experience your full breathing power and stamina, finding more ease and consistency in your voice without effort.
the mind is reluctant to embrace deep change,
and will play devious games to maintain the status quo
Weekend Five
Freeing your full range, flexibility and dynamism
Sinus Resonators
Middle of the face, middle range ... the road out
Experience the strength, freedom and total expressive range of your voice, projecting with ease and flow in all situations.
Nasal Resonators
Carrying power ... mountain peak
Skull Resonators
High intensity ... playing the dome
Range
Three to four octaves ... from basement to attic
Weekend Six
Freeing the clarity and connection of your speech
Articulating the Voice into Words
Consonants and vowels - voice joints
The Impulse to Speak, Clarity of Thought and Intention
Unlocking words, connection, affecting the listener
The Complete Linklater Progression
45min voice workout
The Next Step
Autonomy and self practice
Convey your words, feelings and ideas with clarity of speech, clarity of thought and clarity of intention. Speak with depth, power, sensitivity and connection.
to strengthen the voice
we strengthen the power
of the originating impulse
freeing
the natural voice
Taster Workshops
Try a 3hr practical taster workshop with a QnA about the full course
Dates
Sat 22nd June 2.30pm - 5.30pm - FULL
Sat 29th June 2.30pm - 5.30pm
Sun 7th July 9.30am - 12.30pm
Venue
Fee
£45 (per taster workshop)
Full 6 Weekend Course
6 weekends including between weekend audio recordings for practice as well as written breakdowns of the work and 3 x 1hr group zoom check-ins
Dates
21st-22nd September
12th-13th October
30th November and 1st December
11th-12th January
1st-2nd March
5th-6th April
Times
Saturdays 9-12.30pm and 1.30-4.30pm | Sundays 9.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm
Venue
Fee
£990 (VAT exempt) 9 of 12 places left
Questions?