Voice and the Young Actor

There are thousands of students enrolled in school drama classes and yet very often young actors cannot be heard, are culturally encouraged to trail off at the ends of sentences, and habitually use only the lowest pitches of the voice. Drama teachers, frequently ask, "How can I get my students to speak up, to be clear, to articulate?" Voice and the Young Actor is written for the school actor, is inviting in format, language and illustration and offers clear and inspiring instructions. The accompanying video content features 85 mins and 28 filmed voice workshop exercises with the author and two students. These students log their reflections in the book on what they have learned throughout their training and there is space for the reader to do the same. A workbook in format, Voice and the Young Actor provides simple, interactive vocal exercises and shows young performers how to take voice work into acting.

Many high school theatre teachers do not have access to intensive voice instruction. Rena's book will fill that void. It is instructive, concise, easy to understand, and most importantly for the high school student, fun. High school teachers will find the book an invaluable voice and acting resource. It would be beneficial to all high school theatre programs to have Voice and the Young Actor as a textbook., There is a creative exchange between student and voice teacher found within this very practical and fun guide for emerging actors to find their voices. In Voice and the Young Actor: A Workbook and DVD, Rena Cook has captured the essential steps in creating the foundation for voice and speech training for young actors, and it is clear that she is a talented teacher and an artist … This book flows seamlessly, inviting the reader to become part of this engaging, well-taught class … Cook’s writing is filled with her warm spirit, love of her students, and demonstrative evidence of her appreciation of the significance of voice and speech training. Yes, students will gain both insight and vocal skills after experiencing the effective exercises found within the text; however, the material is equally beneficial to the voice teacher. Cook’s teaching style is present throughout the book, as well as on the DVD recording, and is an asset to voice and acting teachers who desire to convey these concepts to the young actor. A practical, playful, and pleasurable experience, Voice and the Young Actor: A Workbook and DVD is a must have for anyone starting his or her vocal journey and will provide a foundation for beginning voice and speech work.

Rena Cook is Head of Voice at the School of Drama, University of Oklahoma and was a high school drama teacher for 16 years. Rena presents voice workshops for state drama conferences in Colorado, Texas, and Georgia, as well as the Educational Theatre Associations' Conference. A professional voice and dialect coach, Rena served as Editor-in-Chief of the Voice and Speech Review.