Accents and Phonetics 101 (the basics explained)
Wednesday 17th July 2024, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (London Time)
This short course is designed for voice coaches or singing teachers who are interested in adding phonetics and accent work to their portfolio. It is designed as a brief introduction or taster, offering an overview of the topic as well as some quick tips and tricks for you to takeaway.
Accents and phonetics work can be integrated into voice work in many ways. Whether you are a new voice teacher working with actors who would like to know more about incorporating accent work into your practice, a singing teacher who works with performers needing to use accent work or just a voice teacher who could benefit from understanding more about how we produce sounds from a phonetic perspective, this brief introductory course is for you.
In the Autumn, VSC will be launching an eight-session course on accents and phonetics, so this taster session could provide a brief insight into the kind of work we will be exploring, or it could be a stand-alone session to help you learn a little more about working with the spoken voice in this way.
We will cover:
- Phonetics basics (how we produce sound, how it is heard, and how we label sounds)
- Brief introduction to IPA
- Introduction to accent work (including phonetic and intuitive approaches)
What you will take away:
- An appreciation of how accessible accents and phonetics can be
- Tools to start integrating accents and phonetics into your work
- Some great links and resources for you to take this further if you’d like to
- A taster of the kind of work we’ll be doing in the eight-week course with VSC
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
Louisa Morgan
Louisa Morgan is a lecturer, voice teacher and researcher, with a special focus on spoken and sung emotion. Louisa lectures with Voice Study Centre (spoken voice lead) and teaches Musical Theatre students on the MA/MFA course at the Guildford School of Acting (GSA).

Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.

Monday 2nd June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 9th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 16th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 23rd June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 30th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Certificate in Foundations of Vocology with Adam Roberts

Adam Roberts
This fifteen week (30-hour) Vocology Cohort Intensive provides a comprehensive overview of basic vocal anatomy, physiology, and theories of voice production & perception, fundamentals of vocal health, pathology, evaluation, performance, and habilitation of the speaking and singing voice, and a survey of research, resources, and professional opportunities.


Tuesday 17th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
How to Hack Your Next Audition: The Limbic Response

Dr Katherine Skovira
We all know the feeling: staring down an audition panel, we lock up, our knees and hands shake, our breath stops, and we’re in emotional free fall. This is your limbic system going into hyperdrive. In the audition setting, when the limbic system or paleomammalian cortex kicks into action in the face of a perceived conflict, we experience the body’s answer to stressors from people and social interactions. In this course, Dr Katherine Skovira will walk you through steps to work with your limbic response and choose the most appropriate course of action to nail your next audition while honouring your internal mental and emotional landscape.


Wednesday 18th June 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Alternative Methods of Accent and Dialect coaching - and coaching Neurodiverse Actors

Ellen Hartley
Ellen Hartely has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company for over eight years - in this session she will explore how an accent coach can develop and deliver alternative (non-IPA) methods for coaching accents and dialects. There will be a particular focus on developing inclusive and accessible practice for all. Not all actors receive accent and dialect training in IPA, or indeed in any other specialist accent teaching method, others find IPA an unhelpful way to learn. Over a career you may need to find effective ways to coach any, and all, of the following: young people, amateur groups, a cast with mixed experience, professional actors with no formal training, or neurodivergent and learning-disabled actors.