Learn what to do when the director shouts…

“Higher, Jean Valjean!” “Louder, Mame!” “Sweeter, Fiona!” “Shyer, Horton!” “Nastier, Witch!” & “Beastier, Beast!”

Bring your Cast & Staff to experience a wide range of healthy solutions for building a character voice in speech and song. Learn the system that professionals from Broadway to the Met to Nashville to London’s West End & Covent Garden are using in their vibrant performances.

Bring a working song or monologue to experiment with the power of vocal color.

This day will identify the key physiological requirements for successful, healthy and sustainable Belting as uniquely identified by the Estill Model. It is specifically designed for those who are new to Belting and who are looking for explanations about Belting technique. It will also address the myths concerning the supposed dangers of Belting and where to best use this exciting voice quality.

The day will include:

• Short introduction to the Estill Model
• Overview of the physiology of Belting
• Video and audio examples
• ‘How to’ session and problem solving
• Short masterclass

Anne-Marie is one of the most experienced teachers of Belt and the Estill Model in the UK and Europe and presented the first Belting workshop based on the Estill Model in 1997.

Suitable for: People new to the model; those familiar with the Model, looking for clarification and consolidation; singers and teachers; students and professionals.

Visit www.thevoiceexplained.com for more information on courses run by Anne-Marie in the UK and Europe.

This course is open to anyone interested in learning more about the voice - singers, speakers, teachers, therapists, choral conductors.  Participants will be introduced to the concepts and exercises of Estill Voice Training (also known as Estill Voicecraft), an innovative, informative and empowering approach that creates a pathway to exciting vocal discoveries. Free from aesthetic bias, the Figures (exercises) of Level One reveal the basic mechanics of how the voice works. Each Figure creates a specific vocal sound effect, adds a particular "ingredient" to our vocal "recipe".

In this introductory workshop, we explore the range of effects available and acquire valuable insights regarding vocal health, stamina and power. Each day will include interactive lectures as well as opportunities for group and individual practice. Open Coaching sessions offer the chance to see how Figures can be used to break down the barriers standing between you and your vocal goals.

This course is open only to those who have already taken a Level One course.

The Level Two course teaches how EVT’s Figures can be used to mix the "recipes" for 6 voice qualities: Speech, Falsetto, Sob, Twang, Opera, and Belting.

Please note that Ms. Speed will be presenting this course in collaboration with Ed Blake, Specialist Physiotherapist.

This day follows on from previous Breathing and Support workshops in response to many requests for further information on the physiology of breathing when singing. It is open to all levels, but will be of especial interest to those who have attended previous Breathing & Support workshops.

The teaching of ‘support’ is still an area fraught with misunderstanding and misinformation. The key to effective teaching of this crucial area of vocal technique is clear understanding of the physiological basis for the need to ‘support’, what is being supported and the most efficient ways to achieve this.

Building on information given on earlier courses, we will identify which muscles are needed to support the voice by clarifying the relationship between breath and vocalisation. By using ultrasound techniques, we will also identify those muscles which undermine vocal support and those which are essential to sustained, vigorous voice use, in speaking or singing.

Using real time ultrasound, we will demonstrate which muscles tend to be overactive, overwhelming those which are necessary to efficient vocal function.

The day will conclude with a short masterclass, demonstrating the application of the day’s principles in the teaching studio.

The day will include:

• Defining ‘support’ physiologically
• Use of ultrasound to identify key support muscles
• Demonstration of teaching techniques
• Myths and misinformation – disentangling fact from fiction
• Audio and video examples
• Short masterclass

Suitable for: For people both new and familiar with the Estill Voice Model looking for clarification and consolidation; singers and actors; teachers of voice and singing; students and professionals.

Early Bird fee of £65 applies if paid and booked before 01/12/09; Student Rate of £40 if nominated by teacher.

Book via the web site www.thevoiceexplained.com

This Advanced 1 course is mostly for people who have attended Level One & Two courses at Cantina Vocaal in Amsterdam. The course will focus on repetition and more advanced exercises of Level One & Two and analysis of problems & solutions/Pedagogical issues. We will mostly work practically and integrate figures and qualities into music and also have time to focus on individual coaching/training.

This course is open only to those who have already taken a Level One course.

This course will run over the course of several months (February 27 and 28; March 27 and 28; April 17 and 18), 2010 and is open to anyone interested in learning more about the voice – singers, speakers, teachers, therapists, choral conductors. Participants will be introduced to the concepts and exercises of Estill Voice Training (also known as Estill Voicecraft), an innovative, informative and empowering approach that creates a pathway to exciting vocal discoveries. Free from aesthetic bias, the Figures (exercises) of Level One reveal the basic mechanics of how the voice works. Each Figure creates a specific vocal sound effect, adds a particular "ingredient" to our vocal "recipe".

In Level One, we explore the range of effects available and acquire valuable insights regarding vocal health, stamina and power. Each day will include interactive lectures as well as opportunities for group and individual practice. Open Coaching sessions offer the chance to see how Figures can be used to break down the barriers standing between you and your vocal goals.

In Level Two, we explore how EVT’s Figures can be used to mix the "recipes" for 6 voice qualities: Speech, Falsetto, Sob, Twang, Opera, and Belting.

This course is open to anyone who has already taken the Estill Level One course – singers, voice teachers, actors, clinical voice professionals, etc. The course begins with an overview of the development of the Estill Voice Model and an overview of this course. We will then work through all the voice qualities: speech, falsetto, sob, twang, belting and opera – by practicing individually in small groups and integrating them into singing and different genres of music. The days will alternate between classroom presentations, practice sessions in small groups and open sessions.

This course is intended for teachers and students of singing and actors.

The Level One course teaches the tools to control vocal instrument. Students will learn EVT’s Figures to use better vocal structures are useful to sing every musical genre or to play every character.