Voice work for voice actors and podcasters

Have you ever listened to an audio fiction voice actor or heard a particularly engaging podcast host and wondered — how do they get their voice to sound like that? Your voice is an instrument, and like any instrument, it works best when you understand how it’s built. 

In this workshop, voice and dialect coach Jane Guyer Fujita, Head of Voice and Speech at NYU Tisch’s Graduate Acting Program, will walk you through the mechanics of vocal production. 

You’ll learn how breath powers the voice, how the anatomy of your vocal system shapes sound, and how tension can get in the way. Jane will guide you through techniques for relaxing and opening the voice, along with practical tools for healthy, sustainable vocal production you can use every time you step up to the mic.

In the second half of the class, you’ll put that foundation to work and learn how to manipulate your voice. Jane will introduce you to systems for vocal transformation that you can use to build your repertoire as a host and create distinct, repeatable characters for animation and audiobooks. You’ll explore how small, specific changes in placement, resonance, pitch, and articulation can create completely different voices and moods, and how to shift between them safely. 

Throughout the session, you’ll try each technique as it’s introduced. You’re encouraged to bring a script, a character you’re developing, or a piece of narration you’ve been working on. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your instrument and a toolkit for transforming it.

*This class is capped at 12

Voice users at every level. If you're new to voice work, you'll get to know your instrument from the ground up. If you've already trained, it's a great chance to review the fundamentals and add new tools for character work. Come ready to play, and bring any scripts or characters you'd like to explore. No previous experience is required.