Linklater Teacher Training Designation: Week 1
“To free the voice is to free the person” - Kristin Linklater
This is perhaps Kristin’s most famous quote, and I am continually reminded of it’s centrality to the work. I’m now two days into a three week voice teacher training intensive at Albert University in Upstate New York. So much has happened in these past two days that it feels like we've been working together for a month.
In December 2018 I had the transformational experience studying with Kristin Linklater for two weeks. During those two weeks I observed myself and my fellow workshop participants becoming more than we thought we were. It was this experience that confirmed my desire to go on the journey to becoming a Designated Linklater Teacher. So in 2019 I began the teacher training process, and this has led me to this three week intensive at Albert University. It’s been a long journey that will culminate in another three week intensive in mid 2025. At that point - all going well - I will join a group of around 300 Designated Linklater Teachers world wide.
Sadly Kristin passed away in 2020, but her legacy lives on through the work. This training intensive is being led by two Master Linklater teachers: Andrea Haring and Judith Shahn, who are supported by an additional 7 Designated Linklater teachers.
Here is Andrea Haring’s description of the teacher training process:
“The process for becoming a Linklater teacher is thorough. The Linklater progression of voice exercises begins from an internal, direct connection to one’s authentic voice, finds a flow past inhibiting habits in the jaw, tongue, and larynx, and then strengthens the vocal range with triads and arpeggios through three octaves or more and finally engages in lively articulation for clear, expressive energy in the mouth. As well as training deeply in this work and observing senior teachers, a trainee must learn anatomy, Alexander technique, singing, piano, several kinds of movement work, speech and phonetics, as well as learn various approaches to text work that explore content in a kinesthetic, organic way while being sensitive to the complexity and nuance in the structure of language and various rhetorical devices.”
There are 13 teacher trainees in this round of Designation training from all around the world [including the US, Spain, Mexico, Switzerland, Japan and Australia :) ].
In this training intensive we begin at 9am each day and finish at 6pm, with additional preparation sessions in the evenings and only two days off over the three weeks. The work is both exhausting and exhilarating.
Each trainee teacher receives incredibly detailed feedback on their teaching, personal practice and performance work. During our feedback sessions and the workshopping that follows we as teachers are continuing this process of freeing our own voices - finding our own authentic voice as teachers and humans.
Here we go for day three of week one!!!!
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.