More Great Voices to Learn From is a an extensive list of women and men, whose voices are perfect for your ongoing training of excellent elocution.
And, how you can access them, 24hrs a day…
The list contains 40 names you can put into the Audible search box (Amazon’s Audible Book section – there is an app specifically for Audible) and then listen to their voices to your heart’s content – listening to a specific book; documentary; or audio drama, that interests you.
Audio brainwashing – which is effectively what you are doing – is a part of life – hence your accent changes depending on whom you spend time with – but this is targeted audio brainwashing, so that you learn the accent you desire.
You can decide, by whom you wish to be influenced and this means that whatever you learn from me (what needs to happen inside your mouth – your tongue, lips and jaw positions for instant changes that you have experienced during your lesson with me and when we are filming) can be reinforced by listening to people who are actually using these methods and internal mouth structures.
This helps to solidify your knowledge.
If you don’t do this – it is much harder to incorporate the sounds (brought about by changing the shape and position of your tongue, jaw and lips) because you will continue to imitate those around you: loved ones and colleagues and therefore struggle to make what I teach you your daily voice.
So, daily listening to an example of the accent you want, is really, really important.
I know this method works from recommending this to many, many students over the years – so please take this seriously and use it – it really does work.
Just as our character is influenced by the people we spend time with with, so is our voice.
If your loved one has a strong accent and therefore doesn’t have the internationally understood accent I teach you – you must create another audio influence.
You could listen whilst travelling to and from work which might make commuting more fun as well because you can choose content that interests you.
And remember the great thing about Audible is that if you don’t like a book / audio drama production – you can change it! No extra cost! Simply do the swap within one year of purchase, whether it was purchased with a monthly credit or otherwise and you can swap as many books/documentaries/audio dramas – as you like!
Really it is more like subscribing to an audio library, enabling you to listen (for 7.99 a month) to as many productions as you have time for – now that’s a good deal.
And the diversity of books is so large now, because more and more publishers and authors have cottoned on to the fact that we want to listen to books on our phone.
I strongly suggest you listen to people of your own sex – whatever that may be – as you will be influenced by their tone and pitch as well as length of vowels and precision of consonants .
But, occasionally you come across a voice of another gender whom you love and in that case as long they sound good (you can always send me a sample if you’re unsure) listen away!
I particularly love Roald Dahl’s voice. Although his voice is of a very definite period and class, because he is so good at using his Handsome Muscles (for those of you who have or are studying with me) his voice sounds bright and energised – therefore a treat to listen to…
The great voices listed below are more indeterminate – some of them could sound like Roald if they wanted to, but their natural voice is less placeable, or what is called today neutral and therefore more useful to you…
So here are my 2 lists comprising of 21 women and 19 men who have Great Voices to learn from:
Jessica Raine (not her natural voice but as Fleur in The Forsytes being broadcast on Radio 4 currently: September 2016)
Joanna Trolloppe
Juliet Stevenson
Linsday Duncan (absolute personal favourite)
Miranda Richardson (personal favourite)
Miriam Margoyles (her own voice – personal favourite & she’s very good at doing accents)
Patricia Hodge
Penelope Lively
Penelope Wilton
Rosamund Pike
Samantha Bond
Sian Thomas
Susan Hill
Vanessa Redgrave (personal favourite)
More Great Male Great Voices, To Learn From
Anton Lesser
Ben Lambert
Bill Nighy
Eddie Redmayne
Geoffrey Archer
Hugh Bonneville
Miles Jupp
Patrick Malahide (personal favourite)
Richard Burton
Rupert Degas (brilliant at accents and lovely natural voice another personal favourite)
Sam West
Simon Callow
Simon Russell-Beale
Stephen Fry
Toby Stephens
Tim Bentink (personal favourite)
Tim Piggot-Smith
Tom Hiddleston
Tom Hollander (personal favourite)
With all of these great voices to learn from, you are bound to find numerous productions of varying content, that you will really enjoy.
For those of you who listened to the Audio Homework I sent out a while ago regarding the series of BBC Radio 4’s dramatic adaptation of John Galsworthy’s chronicle, The Forsyte Saga, a new series began this Saturday and here is the link to Episode 1: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07w5tnc
Wishing you a very happy Autumn…
Rachel
For the latest updated and expanded version of this with much more content – 74 voices – go to Great Voices To Learn From