Eating plenty of whole grains, fruit, and vegetables helps to keep the throat healthy too.

Remember something that amused you – made you smile. As you smile your throat relaxes – you might want to yawn - that’s even better. Remember something that made you laugh. If you can feel your stomach dancing up and down it means you’re relaxing your breathing muscles. Which is good…

Silently whisper HAAAAAA for 8 seconds. Breathe out… let go… you’ll feel more relaxed!

ABOUT ALAN Woodhouse - voice coach & Voice Trainer

2010 brought me a wonderful range of clients.

In random order:

I directed Shakespeare for the Manchester Metropolitan University, and with Italian students in Rome, where I regularly work.

I worked with an executive from a major catering company; lawyers, a QC, investment bankers, the head of a national charity, a film director, one of the sales team of a FTSE 100 company, a Saudi Arabian mining engineer, a newly published author needing to give public readings of her work, a CNN TV presenter, an Auschwitz survivor who was to tell his amazing story at the Holocaust Memorial Event at the Guildhall.

I myself was asked to lead a seminar on Public Speaking at the LANGUAGE SHOW at Earls Court.

I led group workshops with staff based at the UK's national laboratory for fusion research; for the company who provide visual effects for films such as Harry Potter and the Narnia stories; and at the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry.

Wedding speeches were coached, and quite often, written, when the client got too busy to do it for themselves!

More than anything I enjoy the kind comments emailed to me by clients after we have worked together.

Here is a small selection, no names mentioned…

'Thanks for making me an effective communicator with large groups'

'(he) finally got his dream to make his speech to a national audience and he had the confidence to deliver it with gusto! That is no small thing you did for him.'

'I thoroughly enjoyed learning the voice techniques'

'I had the first training with Alan and it was great.'
'I delivered my speech yesterday and it was a great success.'

'I was very impressed and in a state of wonder about speech matters after our meeting. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have been making strange sounds and motions with my tongue since and my family has now completely written me off. Not bad; it provides a possibility, freedom.'

'You are an inspiring person, Alan – thank you!'

'I could not believe it. I simply wasn’t nervous. It was absolutely fine. I never thought it could be like that. The sessions have done more than I can say for my confidence.'

After TRAINING as a singer and actor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, I studied Voice at the Central School of Speech & Drama, London

CAREER as singer, actor, voice coach, acting coach, presentation skills coach, stage director, script development advisor.

I work with corporate clients: I work with actors and singers and presenters.

I come from a performance background: in all of my work I focus on communication. Learning the technical skills, finding the words, structuring the message, preparing to deliver. Everyone needs to find a voice to meet the world. Always alive to the ever-changing moment.

I wanted to sing and act, and I did – Royal Opera House Covent Garden, West End, TV and Radio.

I always wanted to direct, and I do – with professional actors and in major drama academies in this country and in Italy.

I honestly think that teaching is the best way to learn something.

My teaching career includes work at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Central School of Speech & Drama, L.A.M.D.A., Webber Douglas Academy, Arts Educational Schools, and Rose Bruford College.

I’ve also worked as teacher and coach in Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Hungary, and Sicily

Voice coaching actors and singers is a major part of my working life. Clients include Royal National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and Glyndebourne Opera.

I have regularly worked as English Language Consultant with the baroque music group Les Arts Florissants in Paris.

Corporate work
1-to-1 work allows me to enter your world. Find out who you are. I want you to feel comfortable with your voice. To trust it.

Your voice must work hard for you.
We must work on relaxation and voice training. How to prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally for the big meeting, the important presentation.

Many clients do not have English as a first language. They need a clear Standard English pronunciation, for their career, for their life.

Group work can cover many of the same priorities. It can also be a learning experience for group members. Sharing with each other and helping each other to find practical answers. The need to match the energy and profile of the delivery to the expertise and strength of the underlying message. Perhaps learning that acting is not such a bad idea. And can be more easily achieved than many might imagine!

Radio and TV Presenters need performance skills. I use all my experience as acting coach, and communication skills coach, and my work advising young writers on script development.