I posted in the Acting Methods section but with response. I was wondering if anyone took Melody Jones private lessons for voice lessons and if so, is she any good. I would like to know because for $80 an hour her prices are pretty steep for me (I'm a college student). If you know anyone else who gives voice lessons that's good and for a good price, please let me know Thanks! I'm interested in making my voice deeper. I am 19 years old but I sound 12 and I don't think that Casting Directors would be accepting of it. I heard that Lauren Bacall had a high pitch voice but took classes to get her signature voice. I'm not looking to sound like her but a lower version of myself.
Posts: 3 | Location: New York | Registered: December 07, 2007
Screw trying to change your voice. Work with what you have- take the vocal lessons, but in order to use your voice better, not to try to be what you're not. Imagine what a lucrative career you might have ahead of you in voiceovers.
I'm snarky.
Posts: 321 | Location: NYC area | Registered: September 24, 2006
I SOOOOO agree. Voice-over is about finding YOUR OWN VOICE. Not trying to make your voice into something else. Good coaches won't try to get you to do that.
If I understand you correctly you are talking about Voice and Speech lessons, as opposed to singing lessons or voice-over coaching.
Vocal training is about uncovering your own voice. This may end up changing how it sounds, but you can't choose what change that will be. It will definitely broaden your range. A good teacher will help guide you through this process, not help you force your voice into a particular mode. I say this having 17 years of experience as a voice teacher.
BTW I think that story about Lauren Bacall is exaggerated at best.
Posts: 66 | Location: NYC | Registered: September 01, 2005
I always think it's such a tricky thing when we try and change ourselves to conform to what we think the industry wants, because on any given day you will hear 10 different opinions from 10 different industry pro's about the same thing. It will drive you nuts, if you start listening to what everyone wants you to change.
First I think you have to decide what are you changing your voice for. Do you want a career on the stage? Is it just pitch? Is it volume?
You are sooooooooooooooo young! Maybe you hate to hear that, but it's the truth. Don't start changing anything yet. Work, work, work really hard at your craft. And if after you get out of college and after you've been on a few auditions, you feel like you're not going out for the parts you think you should be, maybe then revisit the voice thing.
And I definitely agree with the other posts, you could make an AWESOME living as a voice over artist, think about Yeardly Smith, she's always had a young sounding voice. Don't know who she is - the voice of Lisa Simpson - Cha-Ching!!!!!
Also Sarah Vowell, who's very distinctive, YOUNG sounding voice scored her a role in The Incredibles! I don't think she was even an actor before that. She's a writer and contributes to This American Life and her weird voice (and amazing writing, sense of humor and perspective) have made her a WHOLE bunch of money.