The Voiceover Network is what it is because of its core strength, you and me, the people who use our voices day in, day out, to drive the soundscape that entertains, educates and informs many millions of people’s daily lives. All of who rarely give a thought to how what they might have heard in their work place, school or favourite retail outlet was created let alone about the person who voiced it.
Going Above and BeVOND
In September the ambitious ‘Above & BeVOND’ event brought together the movers and shakers from all aspects of the voiceover industry to listen, share and participate in truly immersive day at Tile Yard Studios London. If you where there you know how energising it was; the conversation, the business sessions and the constant chatter was so informative making it such a resounding success!
Inspiring
I first heard Yvonne Morley speak at my very first VOND in April last year when, at the Warner Bros Studio in Soho, she gave an impromptu and a personal heart felt thanks, echoed by all of us there, to Rachael Naylor for her vision in setting up The Voiceover Network. Listening to her again, 6 months on, talking about her passion and life’s work in a crowded room of voiceover artist, actors, producers and technicians in a place that was a collective of the music industries leading lights, was no less inspiring from the UK’s leading vocal teacher and vocal coach.
We all arrive in this world bellowing our tiny lungs out, crying heartily, but if we did that today as adults we would undoubtedly do some serious damage to our most precious of assets! But with the right training and a clear understanding of just how precious our ‘vocal-folds’ are to us, we can with time, take on the most challenging of vocal performances.
I first heard Yvonne Morley speak at my very first VOND in April last year when, at the Warner Bros Studio in Soho, she gave an impromptu and a personal heart felt thanks, echoed by all of us there, to Rachael Naylor for her vision in setting up The Voiceover Network. Listening to her again, 6 months on, talking about her passion and life’s work in a crowded room of voiceover artist, actors, producers and technicians in a place that was a collective of the music industries leading lights, was no less inspiring from the UK’s leading vocal teacher and vocal coach.
Vocal Intensive Training Course
My eyes were opened to just how fragile our voice is during Yvonne’s Vocal Intensive Training Course organised exclusively for The Voiceover Network. I should have concentrated more at school in science, biology and chemistry lessons to fully understand how we as humans really work. But as an arty type, I didn’t. You get a physiology and anatomy lesson in the first hour of the course, focusing on the head, neck and throat the component parts of our voice; our lungs and rib cage play their part too. Well, the whole body gets in on the act as I discovered during the day. And, what a day!
I was not there for ballet
The most intimidating part of the Voice Intensive Course was arriving at the venue; The Ballet Rambert dance studio is an impressive modern building on London’s South Bank. With my yoga mat and bottle of water tucked under my arm, as told to bring in the course joining instructions, it was fairly evident to the person behind the reception desk I wasn’t there for ballet… so I joined the many familiar faces of The Voiceover Network members trying to look ‘cool’ in a place dedicated to something far more physical than voiceover.
Be prepared to be amazed!
I’m not going to give too much away, but be prepared to be amazed at what the simplest of actions can do to your vocal performance. You’ll enjoy Yvonne’s anecdotes and stories. Draw from her experiences to add to your own by asking loads of questions. You’ll make funny faces and many silly sounds, contort your body in to positions you never thought possible but, take the odd moment to rest when your lying on the floor between the physical exertion; but not for long. You’ll have so much fun with the exercises I’m still doing daily.
The Vocal Intensive Training Course comes highly recommended, not just by me but all of us who choose to reconnect with our voice, you’ll walk away at the end of the day tied and exhausted, totally elated and your head will be buzzing with all that you’ve learnt.
By Roger Woods
