Coaching
I’ve always had a natural ability with children. As a teenager I always had several babysitting jobs on the go and started chaperoning children in entertainment as soon as I turned 18. While I was still in training myself, I was asked to help younger children within the training facilities with their speech and elocution, and helped them with accent work if they needed to prepare for an audition that required them to use a dialect other than their own.
I first started coaching children during recording sessions when a producer I regularly work with asked me to assist him during a session I’d been booked on as a voice artist. We had a group of 8 children that day and he suggested it might be a good idea to have someone in the studio working with the kids, rather than directing a large group ‘through the glass’. This worked well and we have now been running sessions together in this way for around 10 years.
Several producers I work with book me as both a voice artist and voice coach on the same session. This means that I’m in the studio with the kids for the full session and can step up to play mums, teachers, interviewers etc alongside them when required.
I give the kids help and advice on:
– Mic positioning
– Acting direction
– Vocal effects
– Minimising noise
– How to mark up a script
– R.P pronunciation
– Accents and dialects
– Correct intonation and stress patterns
– Chants
– Encourage and reassure them when they’re nervous
– And keep an eye on their behaviour (Although most of the kids I work with already have a precocious air of professionalism).I regularly work with kids from Sylvia Young Theatre School, Redroofs Theatre School and Jackie Palmers Stage School. I’ve also held voice workshops at Redroofs in the past.
I’d describe my coaching style as fun, relaxed and encouraging. I think this helps the kids to feel comfortable, confident and open to trying new things. They leave feeling happy, pleased with themselves and wanting to come back and do more. As do I. I really enjoy working with children, whether it’s a group or one to one, and always go home smiling.
“Jo and I have worked together for many years, and I have always been impressed with her support of younger, less experienced cast members in the studio. I’m very happy that she has added voice coaching children to her long list of skills”.
“I regularly use Jo as a voice coach when I have a recording session using children. Jo has incredible and never ending patience with the kids, and makes any session with them much easier for the producer. She hugely improves their performances and I’d highly recommend using her if you ever have a session with kids”.
“Jo is a great asset on any recording session involving children. She really knows how to get the best performance from them without ever being patronising or impatient”.
“Jo’s a fantastic coach for children. Teaching them the craft of studio recording and getting the best out of them whilst having fun”.