Our voice is everything. Our voice matters. Our voice has power. But so many of us have forgotten this power.
International voice expert and teacher David Coury believes that the voice is truly transcendent. I discovered David's work in 2011 while I was noticing a deficiency in my young actor's vocal work. So many of their performances were timid, weak and uninspired. David's Vocal Technology helped to wake them up. They viewed his clips, read his articles and experienced what they could. And my actors were better for it.
I reached out to David via his webpage (www.davidcoury.com) and he agreed to share some of his expertise with BHStudios readers. I am excited to share his transformational work and empowering vocal method. Enjoy.
BHS: What words do you have for actors who are discouraged, anxious or afraid to make bold and fresh choices with their voices?
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| David Coury |
1.) Being disliked
2.) Sounding weird
3.) Looking bad
Risking all three will cause immediate authenticity because you'll not be editing yourself. Risking all three will make the truth and the articulation of the truth a possibility. The only way to be authentic in a role (marrying voice with text) is to be authentic in life. Your tendency must be to use words to reveal rather than conceal. It is only when you understand on a cellular level the art of revealing that you can play a scene where a character is using words to conceal. Having access to ALL of your outer voice: the instrument, is as paramount as having access to ALL of your inner voice: your soul.
In King Lear, Edgar says "Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say." I'm not suggesting you speak without restraint but I am suggesting that you say what you came here to say. And that takes digging for the truth and then vocalizing your findings. Your
vocalization is everything. Your thoughts alone will not unearth your truth. Struggle out loud to express yourself. In that struggle, you'll pull the words, even new words, from a place inside you that gets little attention daily. It's this very vocal and emotional struggle that will be transferable to text. Imagine we've just met and your first class with me is complete. You see me crossing the street and a car is coming and I don't see it. Even though we don't share a long history, you would still raise your voice to a level to save me with a "watch out!" You would not think "well, I just met Mr. Coury...it doesn't make sense on paper to care too much too soon so I'll keep it chill and when I know him better, I'll raise my voice." And boom. And thanks.
It's not about making bold and fresh choices with your voice. It is about being YOU in the circumstance with access to all of your VOICE.
My personal rule in art and life is: "The need to say what I've come here to say must supersede EVERYTHING." And that includes discouragement, anxiousness or fear.
For more info:
FOLLOW on Twitter: @davidcoury
www.davidcoury.com
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