Breathing Is Meaning – Fitzmaurice Voicework® and Speaking Voice Clients

Fitzmaurice Voicework is a global leader in voice training for performance, with certified teachers of the work around the world. In her seminal article “Breathing Is Meaning,” Catherine Fitzmaurice charts her development of the approach for actors to address vocal flexibility, strength, authenticity, and ease. The work has since been studied or applied in other areas including public presentation, developing creative work, reducing performance anxiety, speech training, and cognitive function.

The course invites participants to engage in introductory Fitzmaurice Voicework practices and exercises.

The four core elements of Fitzmaurice Voicework—Destructuring, Restructuring, Presence, and Play—provide opportunities to explore the interplay of breathing, body awareness, and voice through movement and somatosensory exercises designed to both release excess muscular tensions and strengthen spoken communication.

Destructuring connects breath with somatosensory awareness and physical effort in a spontaneous, moment to moment way. Destructuring implements modified yoga and other dynamic positions that change how and where the body moves to breathe. Intentionally produced “tremors” or shaking in the extremities (arms and legs) are also introduced to explore breath and somatosensory responses. Depending on individual choice, the practice of Destructuring can range from gentle to vigorous. It creates opportunities to explore spontaneity by allowing the breath to follow the changing demands of various positions and movements, among other potential benefits.

Restructuring proceeds from the “free breathing” practice of Destructuring into patterning the breath through impulse, movement, and muscular use (breath support/management) to vocalize in ways that balance ease, energy, and focus. Restructuring supports a wide range of voice, speech, textual, and professional presentation demands. Restructuring also aims to unite speaker, listener, and environment in an ongoing communication loop.

The somatosensory aspects of De- and Restructuring practices contribute to a sense of Presence that centers and grounds the speaker. Practicing FV also benefits both student/client and instructor, opening the way for more effective, empathetic communication. Play encourages adapting elements of the approach to suit individual, practical, and artistic choices, while serving as an effective teaching modality.

🏷️ 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