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OUR CLASSES
VOICE 1
The voice is the bridge between an actor's inner life and the outside world.
Every thought, impulse, emotion, and intention must ultimately find expression through the human voice. When the voice is restricted by tension, habit, fear, or self-consciousness, truthful communication becomes limited. A free voice allows the actor's emotional life to be heard with clarity, depth, and authenticity.
At Maggie Flanigan Studio, Voice I begins the process of developing a voice that is responsive, expressive, and fully connected to the actor's imagination.
Freeing the Natural Voice
Every person is born with a remarkable vocal instrument.
Over time, however, family dynamics, education, culture, fear, and social conditioning often shape the voice into something functional rather than expressive. While these habits may serve everyday communication, they frequently limit the actor's artistic range.
Voice I follows the groundbreaking work of Kristin Linklater, whose approach has shaped many of the most respected conservatory training programs in the world.
Rather than teaching actors to "perform" with the voice, the Linklater progression removes unnecessary tension so the natural voice can emerge with greater freedom, resonance, and emotional truth.
Developing the Vocal Instrument
The first semester focuses on building awareness of the physical and vocal habits that interfere with free expression.
Through the Linklater Voice Progression, students learn to:
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Identify and release unnecessary physical tension
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Develop natural, efficient breathing
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Build vocal resonance throughout the body
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Free the jaw, tongue, throat, and soft palate
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Expand vocal range and expressive capacity
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Strengthen clarity, specificity, and vocal presence
As physical restrictions begin to dissolve, actors discover a voice that is more responsive to impulse, more emotionally connected, and capable of communicating with greater nuance and authenticity.
Voice in Service of Truth
The goal of voice training is never simply to speak louder or more clearly. It is to develop a voice that remains directly connected to thought, imagination, and emotional impulse.
Actors learn to trust that every word carries intention, every sound communicates meaning, and every vocal choice serves truthful human behavior.
The strongest performances are not built upon impressive voices. They are built upon honest communication.
Building a Lifelong Practice
By the end of the semester, students develop a complete physical and vocal warm-up that prepares them for rehearsals, auditions, performances, and continued professional work.
These practices become part of a sustainable artistic process that supports the actor throughout an entire career.
Voice is not something an actor works on occasionally.
It is an instrument that requires continual attention, care, and refinement.
A Conservatory Approach to Voice
At Maggie Flanigan Studio, voice training is an essential component of developing the complete actor.
The four-semester Linklater progression works in direct conversation with Acting I, Acting II, and the Movement curriculum, allowing students to simultaneously develop truthful behavior, physical freedom, emotional availability, and vocal expression.
Together, these disciplines create an actor whose instrument is integrated, responsive, and capable of meeting the demands of professional theatre, film, and television.
Voice I is a twelve-week course consisting of twenty-four classes.
Prerequisite: Voice I is required before enrolling in Voice II.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
“It was amazing how my work in Voice 1 aided me in acting class. The two went hand in hand. I was able to become aware all unnecessary habits and tension that would stifle my emotional life from being expressed through my voice.”
Dwaynne Walker-Dixon
“I found voice to be the most important obstacle in my time at Maggie Flanigan Studio. Once I enrolled in Voice and Speech, my work changed exponentially. It helped ground me. In my opinion, it’s essential you take this class!”
Scott Brieden
“The Voice I class, taught by Liz Eckert, brought a lot of attention to the parts of my body that I have been straining for most of my life. Liz is extremely helpful and pushes you to work your hardest.”
Julia Caldwell
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ACTING STUDIO NEW YORK NY
The Maggie Flanigan Studio is the leading acting studio in New York City where professional actors train for long careers. The acting programs at the drama school are based on the Meisner Technique and the work of Sanford Meisner. The two year acting program includes acting classes, movement classes, voice and speech for actors, commercial acting classes, on camera classes, cold reading, monologue, playwriting, script analysis and the Meisner Summer Intensive.
Call to Schedule an Interview
VOICE 1
The voice is the bridge between an actor's inner life and the outside world.
MIDORI NAKAMURA
As an actor, Midori has worked in film, TV, on Broadway and Off-Broadway. Midori was made a Designated Linklater Teacher in 2019. In addition to the Maggie Flanigan Studio, she teaches voice for the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University, The Linklater Center in New York, and NYU Tisch at The Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute.
Midori also coaches private clients in both acting and voice.
