My 15 y.o. daughter does a lot of acting and wants voice lessons to learn how to protect her voice and do voices, learn accents, etc. I have googled but am just finding singing lessons. How can I do a better job of searching for this, or does anyone know a good but affordable place in the Plano TX area? (Sending this out beyond that area, tho, b/c am also looking for tips on how to search.)
Try searching for "Vocal Coach" instead of voice lessons maybe.
It's going to take a lot of studying, listening and practicing on her part.
For doing voices she should do a study on Mel Blanc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Blanc
Try these:
http://dialectblog.com/2011/01/31/6-accent-tips-for-actors/
http://www.dialectsarchive.com/
Does she participate in theatre in her school? The schools have teachers who can be valuable resources for things like this.
My daughter came up through the Plano ISD system and I was always so impressed with the quality of the programs they put on each year and the talented students.
We were not in theatre... my daughter was in cheer and orchestra.
I would start with the school then venture out. I know Frisco has the School of Rock but I am not familiar with everything they offer. Another alternative is the music stores around here. Williamson in Plano, there is a Burk school of music in Allen... they could possibly be a resource as well.
Contact Booker T Washington school in Dallas. They are all arts. We have 2 friends who graduated there and are now in NY. You have to audition to be accepted into the school. Even if you didn't want to go to the school... they should be a great resource since all they do is arts.
Good luck.
If you have a theatre group in town or at a local University you could call them and see if they have any recommendations. Also check with your schools drama teacher.
Basic vocal technique - breathing properly, projecting, etc. - is pretty similar whether you're acting, doing voices, or singing opera. We all have the same basic equipment. Contact the theatre groups in Plano and Dallas and pick their brains. Ask them about learning accents as well. I have found some accent coaching on CDs that has worked well for me, but your daughter might need to learn some other way.
I think she should ask her drama teacher at school. She could also get involved in community theater. We have several local theater companies, including children's and teen theater groups, and the adults who run those programs offer all kinds of classes and lessons. My daughter did a workshop a few years ago that in addition to acting and singing, included projection as well as stage movement, blocking and even putting together a resume and head shot!
Enroll her in an acting school, not a singing school. There isn't a voice school as far as I know anywhere. People just pick that stuff up from watching video's or movie's.
She should practice doing imitations of how an actor portrays a character. Our acting kids in this town all take voice lessons from several different teachers. They all perform at recitals each year and go to competitions. This teaches them all they need to know about using their vocal chords to make the different pitches and how to use their diaphragms.
None of the kids in our town that got full scholarships to college for any performing art didn't take voice (singing) lessons. They all took because that's how they learned to use their voices better.
