What is Fitzmaurice Voicework?
Fitzmaurice
Voicework was conceived by Catherine Fitzmaurice, at the Central School
of Drama in London, for actors. Catherine Fitzmaurice has been
interested in healing and, for 35 years, has experimented with the work of William Reich, yoga,
shiatsu, reiki and other somatic arts to unlock the breath and open the
voice. She discovered that the voice cannot open if the breathing is
not free, therefore, breathing is the foundation of her voicework. The
result is Fitzmaurice Voicework, which is now the most sought after
voice work for actors, and is taught at Yale, Harvard, Julliard and
most professional acting conservatories. Trained in Fitzmaurice
Voicework, Heather Lyle undertook a rigorous two year certification
process to safely teach the work and now teaches in the teacher
Fitzmaurice certification program as well as workshops in Los Angeles
and NYC. Although very specialized, the work can be easily learned, and
is of supreme benefit to all who practice it. Anyone interested in
improving their breathing and increasing their vocal power and freedom
will greatly benefit from this work. Fitzmaurice Voicework releases the
breath and voice from places in the body where it has been blocked or
braced, due to emotional or physical stress. Since the voice can only
go where the breath is, the voice is opened in places never before
experienced. Fitzmaurice Voicework is a series of breathing exercises
and a sequence of yoga postures, called Destructuring, that target all
of the breathing possibilities of the body. Normal yoga postures are
transformed into autonomic breathing exercises. Some of the postures
are yoga arches to stimulate the breathing and release the voice from
certain areas of the torso, while other postures are designed to
stimulate the body to tremor gently, freeing the voice from unwanted
tension. When learned, the sequence can be practiced as a highly
effective vocal and physical warmup that can be added to any training
routine. If gives the actor a practical tool to relax and energize the
body, open the breath and free the voice for performance. Most people
also find the exercises induce a calm, tranquil, theta state that can
reduce performance anxiety.
The
second part of the work is called Restructuring. The newly freed voice
is retrained to engage the proper muscles for vocal support and
power through the use of strengthening exercises from classical British
voice training and The Bel Canto School of Singing. Though Restructuring the actor
gains a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the
voice and is quickly able to experience greater vocal flexibility and
stamina. The voice is no longer limited in any way, and becomes an
asset instead of a liability. The actor is now free to use their energy
to solely focus on acting.
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