Traditional, Classically-based singing lessons are not appropriate for modern musical theatre singers. Whereas classical singers are taught the Bel Canto style (literally 'beautiful singing') theatre performers have to portray a much greater range of emotions in a way that is direct and convincing. In theatre, you often have to make sounds that are far from 'beautiful singing' but which must be real, natural - and perfectly safe.
Andy Follin is a Certified Master Teacher (CMT) of Estill Voice Training™, a revolutionary method of singing and learning to sing that puts the singer in complete control of their voice. With Estill Voice Training™, the singer is empowered to make subtle choices, to use their voice in a natural way, and to take ownership of their own artistry.
For almost two decades now, EVT has led the way in training Musical Theatre performers, contributing to the 'modern theatre sound'. It was EVT that defined Belt (or Belting), the form of high-energy singing so prevalent in the West End and on Broadway. Indeed, Belt was a term coined by Jo Estill herself.
Although primarily associated with Belt, EVT is about much more than that. In musical theatre, singers have to learn to express subtle changes in emotion. EVT gives a singer the tools to precisely alter the sound of their voice to portray these variations. As one singer said, 'it's like I've traded my 12 crayon box for a 120 crayon box. I have so many options'.
EVT is taught in two stages - Level 1 gives the singer control over of the various components of the voice, Level 2 shows how to combine those components into distinct voice qualities (eg Speech, Belt, Falsetto). In theatre singing, performers are expected to be able to demonstrate each of these voice qualities, shifting between them as the text and emotions dictate. Although the learning process is demanding, the end result more than justifies the means.
As the only Certified Estill teacher working in the North of England, Andy is uniquely placed to assist musical theatre singers in the area. He works with professionals preparing for auditions, tours and contracts, post-graduate students looking to apply to agents and colleges, and undergraduates seeking entry at the top colleges such as Mountview and Guildford.
So many directors, conductors and agents are now aware of EVT that it is fast becoming an essential item on the CV of anyone looking to pursue a career in Musical Theatre. A grounding in Estill Voice Training™ quickly shows that you're serious about your voice - and your career.
Andy recently helped to present a Level 1 Estill course to undergraduate students at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. The first year acting students were given an intensive two day course on the basic Estill Figures for Voice™, led by Certified Course Instructor Matthew Reeve. The hope is that the intensive delivery will enable the students to receive all the information in a more efficient way and earlier in their training - allowing more time to integrate the work within classes.
The three-year acting course at Mountview is a BA (Hons) degree validated by the University of East Anglia and accredited by the National Council for Drama Training.
Andy is a professional vocal coach, not a school teacher or piano teacher doing a few singing lessons in their spare time. Unlike a lot of voice teachers, Andy does not insist on long-term tuition, where students have to attend regular lessons, repeating the same exercises until their voice improves. You can attend as often as you like, but there's no compulsion to attend every week or every fortnight. In fact, many students only book sessions every 4 to 6 weeks.
Estill Voice Training™ is known for producing quick results. Quite often, Andy finds that long-standing problems can be fixed in the first few lessons. At your first session, Andy will give you an assessment of your abilities and draw up a plan that ensures you get to where you want to be, as quickly as possible.
If you're ready to take your voice to the next level, book a lesson with Andy today (see bottom of page).
Lessons are available for 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 1 hour.
£25.00 for 30 minutes
£37.50 for 45 minutes
£50.00 for 1 hour
To book a session with Andy, you need to put down a deposit of £25. This is to cover the studio costs in case of late cancellation.
The £25 will be deducted from the first lesson fee.
Simply click on the button below and follow the Paypal transaction instructions. Once you've paid, Andy will contact you to arrange a suitable time for your lesson.
Please note: Students must give a minimum of 48 hours' notice should they need cancel a lesson. Giving less than 48 hours' notice will mean the full cost of that lesson will be charged. Additionally, if a student forgets a scheduled lesson or is late (regardless of reason, including illness) the full cost of the lesson will still be charged.