Voice 2: Connecting Language to Behavior
An exceptional actor can lift dialogue off of the page and truly make them their own, wedding language to behavior, so that the writer’s words are the characters. Your voice and speech is a product of so many factors: age, trauma, personality, dialect, and physiology. Unpacking these is a slow and profound process. You cannot separate your acting from your voice and speech. If you do not have a developed instrument, your capacity for rich, nuanced character work will be severely diminished. Acting classes are not going to solve your vocal issues. These must be addressed in a separate setting where you can truly dedicate yourself to this part of your instrument. A serious acting program should place this expectation on you.
Expansive Demands
Voice 2 continues the work created by renowned vocal coach Kristen Linklater, laying the foundation for the demands placed on any actor lucky enough to take on rich, complicated scripts. Voice 2 introduces increasingly extroverted and expansive demands on your voice. We are aiming for maximum effort (efficiency in use of energy), and will work to expand your breath capacity and power in order to access higher frequencies of energy in the voice, without relying on the muscular forces that can lead to vocal strain. We will strengthen and explore the full range of the speaking voice, moving into the upper resonators. We will discuss the application of these upper resonators and how (for example) you can scream without losing your voice. We will look at the possibilities of a warmup beyond just activating the voice, including the implications of a warm-up for you as actors. Finally, we will touch on articulation, invigorating the muscles of your mouth which contributes to economical speech, connecting you to the tactile sensation of consonants.
Your Voice, Your Art and You
The voice is our most intimate instrument of expression. The placement, tone, volume, resonance, and power of the voice has been shaped by decades of parenting, socialization, education, and trauma. Your voice is you. Anything that happens to you happens to your voice. Anything that happens to your voice, happens to you, any changes, any shifts, any growth happens to you. And because of that connection, anything that happens to your voice also changes your art, and deepens your art, and grows your art. Because it’s a triad, it’s one thing, your voice, your art and you. Our voice classes for actors brings this into a full realization for our students.
Voice 2 is a 12-week course with 24 classes.
Voice 2 is a prerequisite to Voice 3.
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.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
“As an actor, the core of what you have to rely on is your sense of truth and humanity. Not only did Maggie allow me to discover & embrace mine, she also taught me that As an actor, the core of what you have to rely on is your sense of truth and humanity …”
Claire Ganshert
“When I started training at the studio my voice was not in good shape. By Level 2 of Voice class I was able to incorporate useful skills that allowed my voice to be free, clear and released. Any actor that wants a powerful and expansive voice should take this class.”
José David Toro
“It was not until Voice 2 that I learned how my voice connected to my body and how to speak with all of myself. This class took my work to a deeper and more personal place. Voice 2 will give you the tools to continue your journey in exploring your voice.”
