Do I have to change my accent to learn to use my voice well?
Or, another way to ask this… Is voice training inclusive of different races, genders, neurotypes, etc?
There is a problem with a lot of traditional voice training paths… which can (at its worst) cause discrimination. But, when we talk about this problem, it lessens its impact.
I talk about:
* Why there might be no such thing as a “Natural Voice”
* A fundamental aspect of voice training that most people don’t talk about.
* The problem with traditional training.
* Why some types of voice training are racist or biassed in some way.
* How you can approach your journey with voice in a better way.
Interested in voice? Add yourself to the Voice Lab Online waitlist: https://sendfox.com/alexowenhill
00:00 Is voice training actually inclusive?
01:21 Where traditional voice training comes from
02:57 The myth of the “neutral” or “correct” voice
04:09 Bias hiding inside “healthy voice” advice
06:40 Pitch, accent, and who gets judged
09:36 When voice training becomes about identity
10:35 A better, collaborative way to teach voice
13:00 Decolonising voice & final thoughts
Some references:
Boston, Jane. ‘Voice Praxis: Social Positionality in UK Spoken Word Practice’. Voice and Speech Review 17, no. 1 (2023): 4–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/23268263.2022.2092144.
Boston, Jane, and Sitandile Dube. 2022. “‘De-colonising Voice’ in Aural/Oral Dramaturgies PostVerbatim, Amplified Storytelling and Gig Theatre in the Digital Age.” Podcast Audio, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. https://www.auralia.space/decolonising-the-voice-podcast
#voice #voicetraining #voicecoach #vocalresearch #accent #identity #authenticity #inclusion representation #decolonising #communication #performance
