Linklater Voice: 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 meeting room, etc.

You have already prepared in advance what you’re going to say: This can be your text, performance, idea or dissertation, etc.

There is an audience watching you: And by “audience,” this could be your teacher, boss, principal, family member, friend or fellow student.

Even though you have already prepared your material, you are surprisingly nervous, and you haven’t the faintest idea as to why this is so. You only know that your body is excruciatingly uncomfortable: maybe you unconsciously start breathing faster; maybe you feel your heart pounding against your chest; maybe you start trembling; maybe you completely forget to breathe; maybe your mouth feels dry. In more extreme situations, you might even want to run away.

You see countless eyes fixed upon you. You feel increasingly afraid, to the point where you get a little dizzy. You try to feign indifference, ease and confidence, but the more you keep trying to grab onto these states, the more anxious you become. You finally muster up the courage to speak, but what you convey is completely different from what you actually want to communicate. You also find that your communication is unclear and ineffective.

You finish your performance, lecture or interview with great difficulty. Afterwards, you cannot stop yourself obsessing over the experience: "Why did I say that? In that moment, I should have given this reaction… instead of…”

This type of experience is very common; 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 ways to tackle your performance, lecture or interview: This is the point of the Linklater Voice Method.

If I am to use three words to briefly summarise the Method’s essence, I would say: Relax, Release and Strengthen. These are also the strengths of this Method.

Relax:

When you relax, breathe and put your attention on your scene partner or audience, you will find that it’s much easier to express yourself.

You can tackle this state of anxiety from two different angles:

1. When you relax your shoulders, neck and belly muscles, this will allow you to breathe much more easily.

2. When you place your attention on the other person and not on yourself, you will reduce your own anxiety.

When you can discover this state of being, you will find that you are more able to specifically and effectively communicate with others.

When others perceive that you are relaxed, and that you are really listening, really experiencing and really thinking through their verbal and non-verbal cues, they will start to become influenced by you – they will also relax.

These are the basics that allow you to more easily and naturally communicate.

Release:

Once you have found a pretty relaxed and natural state of being, the next step is to appropriately release your impulses.

This will be targeting your lips, head, neck, arms and breathing muscles.

When these body parts have been released, you will find that you have a lot more natural power and ease. My students at Shanghai Theatre Academy 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 yourself beginning to experience the joy of communication: expressing yourself doesn’t necessarily 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 and to the release of your impulses, the next step is to strengthen your voice, your ability to express yourself and your persuasiveness.

This means strengthening your voice’s natural resonance by targeting your vocal resonators – this includes the chest, mouth, teeth, sinus, nasal and skull resonators.

Some people appear to be born with natural persuasiveness, charisma and natural power; their voices can easily fill a large space and be clearly heard by others.

I want to tell you: If you have the appropriate training and perseverence, YOU too can accustom yourself to the above state of being whenever you dive into a performance, interview or lecture.

You could be asking yourself: Does this Voice Method have any special requirements for students? Do I need to be especially young, gifted or filled with imagination in order to be qualified to learn it?

My answer: Anybody can learn it. The strength 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 as you have the hunger to learn and the drive to explore the potential of your voice, you are qualified to learn this Voice Method.

I am able to adjust my class material according to the condition of your body, your age and how much previous knowledge and experience you have.

Finally: We do provide free 3-hour taster classes. I very much look forward to working with you!

Warren Chu