Professional Voice Practice, Postgraduate Taught - MA / MFA / PgDip - 2022/23 entry

The starting point is work on yourself: i.e. your voice and its source in your body and breath. It is the experiential understanding of this process and listening to your colleagues on the course that informs your own pedagogy. At Royal Birmingham Conservatoire we advocate a physiological and imaginative approach to voice work that develops the 'practical, intellectual, physical and emotional skills of students in an atmosphere that is enabling, supportive and empowering'*.

Through core learning based on how the voice works, your imagination will fuel the development of your personal artistry and development. If you aspire to learn in-depth, specialist knowledge in professional voice practice, then this programme will not only teach you the skills, but broaden your vital industry connections.

The foundation of the course is rooted in the principles and practices of healthy vocal use. Exploring topics such as vocal function and dysfunction, phonetics and accent analysis, you will build an in-depth awareness of professional voice practice. The content of the course spans from teaching you practice-based methods and strategies to theoretical research.

We will help you establish links to industry through our strong connections with leading companies such as the RSC, Birmingham REP Theatre and Shakespeares Globe Theatre. We have a working relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company and with the companys Head of Voice, Kate Godfrey. We also have connections at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Voice Clinic which can offer students insights to clinical practice. Our Professional Voice Practice course has been developed with the support of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Graduates have gone on to fulfil very exciting careers, working professionally at prestigious organisations such as the RSC, The Royal Court, the Minack, The Cambridge Theatre, the Mountview Theatre Academy and ALRA.

With regular masterclasses and a compulsory placement module you will gain excellent insight and experience of working professional practice. Your course will be led by a mixture of visiting and in-house tutors, all of which have extensive industry experience. Alex Taylor, your course director, has worked internationally with schools such as Juilliard. Alexs influential background brings a wealth of experience to the course, bringing you comprehensive, informed and exciting study. Our visiting tutors range of experience varies from work with professional theatre companies, the field of film and television, Voice Care Network UK, NHS Direct, the BBC, UK Borders and many more.

*(Federation of Drama Schools Core Principles)

Bachelor Degree from a recognised university with a minimum grade of 60% / Good / 2.5 / C+

Even though you may have met the stated requirements, if your first language is not English, we may ask you to take an additional English Language Test when you arrive.

Based on the results of the test, you may be required to attend regular English classes to improve your level of competence. English classes are provided free of charge and are available to all non-UK students who wish to attain greater fluency in English.

Enhancing Employability Skills

You’ll be encouraged to think creatively, considering how to apply the knowledge taught to your specific interests or practice. This will allow you to develop a set of tools and transferable skills that will help you translate your knowledge to a variety of professional voice roles.

Throughout the programme you will develop your ability in planning and presenting presentations, performances, and workshops. You will be able to deliver professional voice content to a high artistic, intellectual and professional level. Graduates will be able to make sound judgements and demonstrate a systematic understanding of voice. You will be able to form expert insight and strategies of creative thinking.

The programme is structured to develop your teaching skills, through micro-teaching. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the techniques applicable to professional voice practice. This will prepare you for a manner of roles within the voice field. Many of our students express an interest in forming their own professional voice companies, providing bespoke vocal services. We encourage you to explore a variety of pathways, ensuring you leave with specialised, yet extensive knowledge and skill.

The content of this course will allow you to progress into voice roles within private practice, teaching in a drama school context or even voice coaching in the industry. You’ll also have the skills needed for voice teaching in other contexts such as working in the community or teaching in a primary or secondary school.

Our Graduates

Lottie Williams-Burrell
Senior Voice Tutor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

Since graduating, Lottie has worked as a freelance voice teacher at Associated Studios, Birmingham School of Acting (now Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, where she became a Senior Voice Tutor in 2017. Lottie’s time on the course helped her considerably with building relationships and making important industry connections. In addition to her work at Mountview, Lottie gained experience working as a voice coach at a number of London-based shows, she also has experience teaching private clients.

Lottie was originally attracted to MA Professional Voice Practice by the singing module. Her highlights from the course include the accent and dialect module, the masterclasses where she was introduced to leading voice professionals, and the “fantastic group of teachers and students”.

Dayle Torwanicky
NYC-based Teaching Artist

Since graduating Dayle was immediately hired to teach at a full-time acting conservatory in New York City. She has managed to build up her teaching hours from 3 hours a week to 20+ hours in addition to coaching productions every term.

Following her training on MA Professional Voice Practice, she went to become a certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. She is now on her sixth year on faculty at Stella Adler Studio of Acting, where she teaches on three courses. In addition, teaching classes she also maintains private clients. Dayle has managed to keep in touch with his class members from Birmingham who are now situated at different parts of the world (New York City, Los Angeles and Barcelona) they collaborate regularly and help one another to learn and grow. Dayle’s future plans include broadening her knowledge in linguistics in order to continue work with international actors.

James Gitsham
Lecturer in Theatre at LASALLE College of the Arts

James was offered a full time voice tutor role prior to graduating. He later on went on to develop a private voice coaching business before successfully taking on the role as a Lecturer at the Theatre at LASALLE College of Arts in Singapore.

James said “The program introduced me to a much wider world of voice training than that which I’d previously been aware of. There were opportunities to develop the skills to apply voice work to a variety of areas including vocational actor training, professional accent coaching and to the world of commercial business training.”

The first thing that attracted James to master’s program at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire was the expertise and qualifications of the teaching staff. James continues “The breadth of material that was covered on the course struck me as unique within postgraduate voice programmes. From being trained through the vocal progression of Kristen Linklater, to instruction in levels one and two of Estill Voice Training, we covered a variety of voice practitioners. The program also has an excellent staff-student ratio which allows for a great deal of one to one training and personalised feedback.”