ESTILL VOICE TRAINING: THE KEY TO HOLISTIC VOICE AND SPEECH TRAINING FOR THE ACTOR

• Main Author: Salsbury, Katharine
• Format: Others
• Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2014
• Subjects: theatre voice estill speech; Arts and Humanities; Theatre and Performance Studies
• Online Access: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/3384; http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4383&context=etd

The aim of this paper is to examine the Estill Voice Training System to explain how it may be used in tandem with widely accepted voice and speech methodologies such as those developed by Kristin Linklater, Patsy Rodenburg and Dudley Knight/Phil Thompson in order produce versatile performers able to meet the vocal gauntlet flung at the feet of the contemporary actor. Students must be able to effectively function as voice-over talent, sing musical theatre, rattle off classical text with aplomb and work in film, all with superior vocal health. Synthesizing proven techniques with the skills presented in the inter-disciplinary Estill Voice Training System, I hope to develop a new, anatomically specific, voice and speech training progression to efficiently assist the student actor discover the physical and emotional vocal ranges demanded of the contemporary actor.