What is your background in vocal health and the voice?
I’ve been teaching people how to use their voices in a healthy way for 25 years. I started out just teaching singing workshops focusing on part harmony singing and breath work, but then in 1998 I took a full time training in Voice Movement Therapy in London which introduced me to the fullness of the human voice and how it relates to our emotional and physical health. I’ve been teaching singers with that methodology ever since then. However several years ago, when I myself became a voice actor, I quickly realized the extraordinary stress actors put on their voices, often way outside any training they have received in their normal course of training. I’ve been committed to bridging that gap ever since.
What would you say is the biggest vocal health concern for voice actors?
Video game sessions really. When you can often find yourself starting with a non-human creature which may involve some rasp or constriction, then add dying and attack efforts, and then go for 2-4 hours... well that can be a disaster waiting to happen.
What if you don't really do video game auditions/jobs? Are there health concerns that an actor who primarily does commercials or narration should be aware of?
Definitely narrators, any kind of long form narration like e-learning or audio books will tire your voice and put extraordinary strain on your instrument. Honestly, I think any professional voice actor should know this stuff no matter what their main area of focus. Vocal loss comes at us for many reasons and learning how to fully recover is invaluable.
Do you have a good tip or general advice for voice actors?
Hydrate! hydrate! hydrate! Make sure your body is loose and relaxed and remember that cooling down can be as important as warming up for vocally stressful sessions. Oh and don’t try to perform on a damaged instrument. If you’ve already lost your voice, stop talking!
Is vocal health something you should be concerned about as a beginning voice actor?
Of course! If you plan on making a career out of using your voice why wouldn’t you learn the tools to protect your investment? Vocal loss is real my friends, whether it initiates from sickness or shouting over loud music in a bar, the sooner you learn how to heal and recover the quicker you can get back behind the mic and you’ll also be MUCH less likely to cause any more serious damage down the road.
Join us on September 9 for Vocal Health with Julia Norton and master the tips and tricks to keep your voice healthy all day long.
We've got some great classes headed your way next week and there are a handful of spaces available in each of them! Take a look...
Guess who's back?! That's right! Lil' Dino has returned to usher in the fall with a Labor Day Weekend Flash Sale!
Inspired by the three-week intensive some of our students recently completed, Danny spoke with Voice One Vocal Health instructor Julia Norton who has over 25 years of experience teaching people how to have a free and healthy voice.
It started on July 20th. 23 days and 138 hours later, our Summer Fast Track is complete. I watched these students grow and flourish over these three weeks, and here’s what I came away with:
Wanna know a great way to end your kids' summer vacation? With Voice Over, of course!
Danny spoke with Voice One Founder Elaine Clark, who has over 30 years experience as a casting director in video games, anime, toys, corporate narration, documentaries, and commercials, about what it means to be a casting director.
Courage to what? Speak, fight back, be heard, perform voice over, recite poetry, sing, rap, record, and amplify your authority.
An Interview with Top Dialect Coach Doug Honorof
Sally shares a bit of wisdom she heard from a former coach that has helped boost her confidence during auditions.
An upcoming class to practice "inhabiting an audition"
Having the backing of talent agents can be critical to our success!
Sally reflects on her early resistance to the union in her prior work, and how important the actors' union is to her.
Please join us for an upcoming event featuring our local SAG-AFTRA union rep!
Sally takes us back to her early days of voice acting and the origins of her cleverly crafted persona, Actor Girl.
Why every voice actor needs personal branding and self-promotion.
The importance of those "additional skills" - A little more about our Business & Marketing, Advanced Marketing, and Home Recording classes
We are thrilled that the incredible Amanda Rose Smith will be here at Voice One for a three-hour audio editing workshop.
The Daytime Conservatory takes you and a small group of peers on a ten-week tour of the core, expanding your range by immersing you in scripts from across the VO-spectrum.
Sally recounts a pivotal moment in her voice over training
We sent out a Super Bowl scavenger hunt to aide you in watching the year's biggest commercials with a critical eye. Many of you sent us your answers, and we wanted to share some of our biggest take-aways.
Voice One offers a beginning improv class that takes you through the the basic rules of improv (believe it or not, there are rules!) through games and scenes. Laura Derry creates a fun and safe space for you to succeed and fail and you'll laugh and learn a lot!
A guide for watching the Super Bowl commercials with the critical eye of a professional voice over actor.
We are premiering a new class called Storytelling in VO. The class takes place over two Thursdays: January 31st and February 7th from 6:30pm-9:30pm taught by Sally. The class will cover the short story format, with scripts from commercials, corporate narration, literature, and children’s books.
Sally tells her own voice over story - how she went from dancer to voice actor.
