Estill Voice Training™ is the result of years of research by Estill International, building on the pioneering work of Jo Estill, a singer who posed the question 'How am I doing this?'
Estill Voice Training™ separates the science of voice production from the art of performance. Based on a solid foundation of anatomy and physiology, Estill Voice Training™ gives the singer independent control over the structures involved in making sound - then shows how to mix those structures to make six distinct voice qualities - Speech, Falsetto, Sob, Twang, Opera and Belt.
One of the guiding principles of Estill Voice Training™ is 'knowledge is power' - knowing how your voice works is a good thing! Estill gives the singer control of their voice. If you're coming from a background of understanding the voice through imagery, the anatomical nature of Estill can be a real eye-opener! Many students who come across Estill Voice Training™ for the first time have stunning insights.
Quite often, we find that long-standing problems are overcome simply by having a better understanding of how the voice works. But this does not mean that it is a 'quick fix'. Taking basic understanding to advanced performance can take many months of practice - Andy can help you begin this journey and keep you on the path to vocal success.
For starters, Yvie Burnett, vocal coach on the X Factor. If you're unsure whether EVT is the right way to go, why not read what she has to say about it: here.
Estill Voice Training™ is rapidly becoming the 'must-have' item on the CV of anyone looking to pursue a career in Musical Theatre. Whether you're ready to launch your career or preparing to audition for a college like Mountview or Guildford, a grounding in Estill Voice Training™ will quickly show that you're serious about your voice - and your career.
It's true that Estill Voice Training™ has been mainly associated with Musical Theatre, perhaps because of the success it had in teaching Belt. However, EVT is now making deep inroads into the Opera world, as more and more conductors and coaches realise the benefits of a fact-based technique. Perhaps the most telling sign of how far EVT has come in the Classical field is the fact that Paul Farrington (Estill Vanguard Licensee) is now Technical Voice Coach at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. If it's good enough for them...!
Please bear in mind that only Certified teachers are allowed to teach Estill Voice Training™. The Level 1 and Level 2 courses are open to the public and whilst they offer a full introduction to the Estill 'model', they do not prepare the pupil to teach it - there's no such thing as a 'Level 1 / 2 Estill teacher'. This skill is only gained through an intensive and prolonged Certification process, leading to the Certified Master Teacher exams.
Whilst it is flattering that so many teachers wish to mention Estill on their CVs these days, it's important that pupils seek training only from those who have gone through the proper certification process. At the time of writing (August 2009) Andy Follin is the only Certified Master Teacher working in the North of England.
If you think Estill Voice Training™ is for you, why not book a lesson with Andy Follin now? He'll give you an honest assessment of your abilities and requirements and together you can draw up a plan that will help you take your singing career to the next level.