4th November 2020 – Introducing the Linklater Voice Method: Strengths and Who Is It Suitable For
Introducing the Linklater Voice Method: Strengths and Who Is It Suitable For Imagine this scenario:
You are standing on a stage: This “stage”can be an actual theatre stage, but it could also be a classroom or corporate meetingroom etc.
You have already prepared in advance whatyou’re going to say: This can be your text, performance, idea or dissertationetc.
There is an audience watching you: And by“audience,” this could be your teacher, boss, principal, family member, friendor fellow student.
Even though you have already prepared yourmaterial, you are surprisingly nervous, and you haven’t the faintest idea as towhy this is. You only know that your body is excruciatingly uncomfortable:maybe you unconsciously start breathing faster; maybe you feel your heartpounding against your chest; maybe you start trembling; maybe you completelyforget to breathe; maybe your mouth feels dry. In more extreme situations, youmight even want to run away.
You see countless eyes fixed upon you. Youfeel increasingly afraid, to the point where you get a little dizzy. You try tofeign indifference, ease and confidence, but the more you keep trying to grabonto these states, the more anxious you get. You finally muster up the courageto speak, but your words are completely different from what you actually wantto communicate. You also find that your communication is unclear andineffective.
You finish your performance, lecture orinterview with great difficulty. Afterwards, you cannot stop yourself obsessingover the experience: why did I say that? In that moment, I should have giventhis reaction…. Instead of…”
This type of experience is very normal;everybody will have had this experience at some point in their lives.
I would like to clearly point out that,actually, there are other easier, simpler, more direct and more effective waysto tackle your performance, lecture or interview: This is the point of theLinklater Voice Method.
If I am to use three words to brieflysummarise the Method’s essence, I would say: Relax,Release and Strengthen. These are alsothe strengths of this Method.
Relax:
When you relax, breathe and put yourattention on your scene partner or audience, you will find that it’s mucheasier to express yourself.
You can tackle this state of anxiety fromtwo different angles:
1. When you relax your shoulders, neck andbelly muscles, this will allow you to much more easily breathe.
2. When you place your attention on theother person, you will take awareness away from how anxious you are.
When you can discover this state of being,you will find that you are more able to specifically and effectivelycommunicate with others.
When others perceive that you are relaxed,and that you are really listening, really experiencing and really thinkingthrough their verbal and non-verbal cues, they will start to become influencedby you – they will also relax.
These are the basics that allow you to moreeasily and naturally communicate.
Release:
Once you have found a pretty relaxed andnatural state of being, the next step is to appropriately release yourimpulses.
This will be targeting your breathingmuscles, lips, head, neck and arms.
When these body parts have been released,you will find that you have a lot more natural power and ease. My students atShanghai Theatre Academy’s like to describe this sensation as: “Unfettered,”“easy,” “feels great,” “natural,” and even “becoming one with body and heart.”
Within this state, you will find yourselfbeginning to experience the joy of communication: expressing yourself doesn’tnecessarily have to be excruciatingly painful or embarrassing every time!Expressing yourself can also be joyful, meaningful and filled with potential.
Strengthen:
Once you are accustomed to relaxation andthe release of your impulses, the next step is to strengthen your voice, yourability to express yourself and your persuasiveness.
This means strengthening your voice’snatural resonance by targeting your vocal resonators – this includes the chest,mouth, teeth, sinus, nasal and skull resonators.
Some people appear to be born with naturalpersuasiveness, charisma and natural power; their voices can easily fill alarge space and be clearly heard by others.
I want to tell you: If you have theappropriate training and patience, YOU too can accustom yourself to the abovestate of being whenever you dive into a performance, interview or lecture.
You could be asking yourself: Does thisVoice Method have any special requirements for students? Do I need to beespecially young, gifted or filled with imagination in order to be qualified tolearn it?
My answer: Anybody can learn it. Thestrength of this Method is that it is suitable for everybody.
No matter what condition your body is in,no matter your age, no matter how much you know about your voice, as long asyou have the hunger to learn and the drive to explore the potential of yourvoice, you are qualified to learn this Voice Method.
I am able to adjust my class materialaccording to the condition of your body, your age and how much previousknowledge and experience you have.
This is me and my 2020 first year MFAstudents in class. See for yourself what learning this voice work can do foryou: when you are able to freely release your voice and impulses, communicationcan be endlessly joyful!
Finally: We do provide free 3-hour tasterclasses. I very much look forward to working with you!
Warren Chu |
