The Donald Woodburn 

Voice Masterclass 

A 4 wk Voice series for actors.

Course Outline | Course Outcomes | Session Details | Apply Now

The Hub Studio is very pleased to welcome Donald Woodburn. Donald runs Woodburn Voice and is a company director at BrandU Media. He is a former head of voice at both the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA). He has also worked extensively in broadcasting with international clients such as MTV, AlJazeera English and the SABC, and locally with Fox Sports, Fox Sports News, the ABC and channels 7 and 9.

Donald will be running an edition of his specialised Voice masterclasses based on his unique perspective on disinhibited vocal practice in the real world and how to incorporate that into performance.

“I believe that in moments of heightened passion we express ourselves more essentially. I also believe that theatre and film operate in the realm of heightened passion and practitioners in these fields must therefore understand how to access ‘the passionate voice” – Donald Woodburn

Having taught in several countries around the world Donald’s work has been strongly informed by his observations of natural vocal practice in confident outspoken cultures, as well as heightened communication moments in contemporary Australian culture. To keep his vocal practice current he observes the rich diversity of physical and vocal expression in people’s daily ‘story telling’. He is obsessed with keeping his ear tuned to the ‘rules of communication’ in lived practice. Marrying his observation and understanding of numerous cultures and differing cultural practices with the principles of Vocal Targeting and the immediate environment, Donald works to shift perceptions and practice so that performers can discover their inherent ability to play large or small and impact with ease, precision and vibrancy doing either.

This is essential work for those professionals looking to incorporate the true power and precision of their own passionate voices into performance.

 

LISTEN NOW : Donald Woodburn on the Hub Podcast Don’t Be So Dramatic w/Rachel Baker

 

 

Course Outline

Over the course you will:

  • Explore the ease of sound production through the use of idiolect and the role of physics.
  • Explore the impact of sensory perception and context on word structure, emphasis and consonant function.
  • Explore the fundamentals of the body/mind voice relationship.
  • Explore the impact of gravity and weight on movement, breath, the production of sound, relationship and emotional intensity.
  • Explore the impact of untidiness, ugliness, discomfort and chaos on vocal engagement, vocal energy, sound quality and natural, intrinsic clarity.
  • Unlock dynamic speech using ‘the undeniable’, ‘the immediate’ and ‘the simple’.
  • Reduce vocal tension through releasing the public/private space construct.
  • Use Vocal Referencing principles to enhance text analysis.
  • Create connections and sustain relationship using Vocal Targeting principles.
  • Use Vocal Referencing and Vocal Targeting principles to populate and enrich the witnessed world of the play.
  • Use gravity, Vocal Targeting, Vocal Referencing, drawing in and the Sphere of Physical.
  • Influence to fuel emotional, physical and vocal connection.
  • Explore some of Donald’s preferred fundamental Practical Voice exercises.

Course Outcomes

This course will help you to;

  • Start breaking inhibiting ‘rules’ and habits
  • Find more grounded and physically freedom while speaking
  • Find greater vocal and performance potency in simplicity
  • Begin discovering a fuller richer voice that operates with increased gravitas, precision and ease
  • More accurately reflect your relationship to self, scene partner, objects and space
  • Start finding vocal integrity at scale for theatre
  • Start finding vocal integrity in proximity for camera work

Session Details

When: 4 x Tuesday evenings

Dates: 22nd February – 15th March 2022

Time: 7pm – 10pm

Venue: 18 City Rd, Chippendale, NSW 2008

Participants: 14

Cost: Non-Members: $285.00 incl GST  (10% off for members)

Payment Information

How To Pay & Instalment Option: The easiest way to pay is by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) using the bank details on the invoice (please quote the invoice number in the transfer information), or by simply clicking the ‘pay online’ link also on the invoice (bank fees apply). You will be email an invoice upon acceptance into the program. Payment is due no later than the due date stated on the invoice, however if you would like to pay in instalments please call or email the office to arrange the dates and amounts you will pay. Please note full payment of the course is due by the time the course finishes. You can start payment instalments at anytime upon receipt of the invoice.

Session Details

About Donald Woodburn

Donald Woodburn runs Woodburn Voice and is a Director at BrandU Media. He is an internationally accomplished voice coach who works with professional communicators from an array of backgrounds. He is also the author of five children’s books.

Donald studied a BA Dramatic Art (Hon) at Wits University in Johannesburg and early in his career worked as a performer in theatre, TV and film. In 1996 he completed the Graduate Diploma in Voice Studies at NIDA and immediately went on to become Head of Voice at the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA). In 2010 he was employed by the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts where he worked across Acting, Aboriginal Performance, Music Theatre, Opera, Broadcasting and occasionally even Dance. In 2013 he secured residency in Australia as a Distinguished Talent in the field of voice and was later appointed as the Coordinator of Voice at WAAPA. He now lives in Sydney.

Donald has worked with an array of broadcasters including AlJazeera English, MTVbase, the ABC, Fox Sports, Fox Sports News, Channel 7, Channel 9, the SABC, etv, Summit Television (now Business Day TV) 6PR, East Coast Radio, Radio Jacaranda, The Star (online) and at the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa. He has trained news anchors, newsreaders, journalists, commentators, DJs, VJs, and TV and radio programme hosts working in news, weather, sport, religion, music, entertainment, drama and children’s programming. His clients work in more than 10 languages across several continents.

His unique and exciting approach to voice emerged from a blend of cultural experiences growing up in rural KwaZulu-Natal and his extensive involvement with broadcast professionals operating in demanding environments. He has honed this work over more than twenty five years to serve speakers operating in challenging environments who require fast, effective and accessible training. He is the originator of ‘Vocal Targeting’ work and is regarded for his ability to astutely diagnose vocal performance issues and quickly shift a speaker’s performance ability.

His reputation has seen him invited to design, coordinate and run voice training workshops and sessions with professional speakers in public speaking, education, politics, the NGO sector, corporate clients and in law and medicine. His children’s books have also seen him invited to visit schools and interact with primary school teachers and learners.

How to Apply

Please send an expression of interest including your C.V. to courses@thehubstudio.com.au or use the below form. Please note the course is by invitation only. If accepted we shall send out an application form with all the course information. Notification for acceptance will be made no later than one week before course commencement.

If offered your place will only be held once payment is received in full. Failure to do so will forfeit your place on the course.

For more information or queries please don’t hesitate to call on (02) 9212 0522 or alternatively email us on the above address.

Course Application Form

IMPORTANT INFO!! We are experiencing some unusual issues with our forms from time to time. If your form isn't sending through please email the same information, including your CV and Headshot via email to courses@thehubstudio.com.au and we'll get back to you asap. OR call 02 9212 0522.

  • Accepted file types: jpeg, gif, png, pdf, docx, jpeg, jpg, pages, tiff, txt, doc, heic, , Max. file size: 512 MB.
  • Accepted file types: jpeg, gif, png, pdf, docx, jpeg, jpg, pages, tiff, txt, doc, heic, , Max. file size: 512 MB.