Authentic Voice and Speech by Louis Colaianni and Peter Marciano offers a ground breaking, student-centered approach to voice and speech training that celebrates individuality and diversity.
This book moves beyond traditional, prescriptive methods to empower readers to embrace their unique voices as reflections of their identity, culture, and personal journey. Drawing inspiration from Kristin Linklater’s transformative teachings, Rosina Lippi-Green’s sociolinguistic insights, and the educational philosophies of Maria Montessori and Waldorf Schools, the authors present a holistic framework for vocal and speech development. Through step-by-step exercises, readers are guided to explore their authentic sound, develop a deeper connection with their audience, and achieve “intelligible eloquence”—a way of speaking that is both clear and deeply personal. The book challenges the constraints of phonetic systems like the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), instead celebrating linguistic diversity and the creative potential of individual expression.
Ideal for students, educators, and professionals in voice and speech training, actor training, and public speaking, Authentic Voice and Speech is a transformative guide for anyone seeking to discover and embrace the power of their own voice. Whether you’re pursuing courses in performance, communication, or education, this book will inspire you to celebrate the normalcy of difference and unlock your unique vocal potential.
Table of Contents:
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1. Breath and Sound
Chapter 2. Stamina and Flexibility: How to Receive Coaching and Direction
Chapter 3. Knowing How You Speak
Chapter 4. Scavenger Hunt
Chapter 5. The Shapes of Sounds
Chapter 6. “R”: The Most Variable Consonant AND/OR Vowel in the World
Chapter 7. The One Vowel Monologue
Chapter 8. The Remembered Voice: Reviving a Voice From Your Life
Afterword
Appendix
About the Author :
Louis Colaianni is internationally recognized for his work in voice, speech, and phonetics. For forty years, he has taught in actor training programs such as the USC School of Dramatic Arts, the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, the Actors Studio at Pace University, the Experimental Theatre Wing at NYU, and the Trinity Rep Conservatory. He coaches voice and dialects for Broadway, film, and television and leads workshops in the United States and around the world.
Peter Marciano is a Brooklyn-based actor, director, and teacher from Syracuse, NY. He is a Designated Linklater Teacher, having studied voice and Shakespeare under Kristin Linklater. He has taught voice, movement, and acting for the past thirteen years at various programs including the MFA programs at Pace University and University of Southern California as well as at CAP21 at Molloy University, The Linklater Voice Centre, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, NYFA, and KIMEP University in Kazakhstan. He coaches actors on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national tours as well as on film and television. He holds an MFA in acting from The Actors Studio Drama School.
