Teaching Voice: Workshops for Young Performers

An inspiring, practical guide to working with young people on their voices, by a highly experienced teacher, actor and director.

Teaching Voice is for all youth-theatre leaders, workshop facilitators, teachers or lecturers who want to help their students to develop their voices - either as a component in theatre training, while rehearsing a play, or for the benefit of their personal development.

It offers a step-by-step course of workshops and themed sessions, along with a series of exercises and vocal warm-ups - from the tried-and-tested to the truly innovative. Included are:

Full plans for two ninety-minute core sessions, laying the essential foundations of voice work: breath, diction, resonance and relaxation Seven themed workshops exploring individual aspects including projection, rhythm, the power of language, emphasis and Shakespeare Micro sessions that can be used within the structure of any session, or when time is short Further sessions to help incorporate voice work into rehearsals for a school or youth-theatre production

Also included is a personal exercise plan to help you develop your own skills and confidence as a voice teacher, whatever your level of experience.

Teaching Voice is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in vocal training for young people, whether you're looking for a structured programme of workshops, or simply for some fresh ideas to inspire your students.

Auteur

Max Hafler trained and worked as a professional actor for many years. He now works as a teacher, director, deviser, writer and lecturer. He was a resident voice teacher at Galway Youth Theatre for twelve years and taught voice in youth theatres all over Ireland for the National Association of Youth Drama. He has taught ensemble and directed productions including many notable young people's productions. A successful playwright and adapter, he has written several plays for young people, including Alien Nation, Battle Stations and This Means War! When the National University of Ireland, Galway, established drama courses in 2000, Max was invited to teach Voice and Chekhov Technique on their BA and MA programmes - and is still doing so. He has worked in many applied drama areas with disability groups, with medical students, business students, schoolteachers and lecturers, giving him a full understanding of the issues that are faced by a facilitator when working within a particular group. He discusses his work extensively in his blog: www.maxhafler.wordpress.com.