Teaching - Sarah Weatherwax | Actor/Voice Teacher

Voice Teaching

Bio

Sarah has taught voice for the actor for almost 20 years. During that time she has worked at numerous studios and schools including Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts, Straeon Acting Studios in Toronto, Montreal and Boston, Humber Comedy College and Brock University. She has done on-set acting coaching, lots of audition coaching and she works with a wide range of private clients that includes actors as well as writers, lawyers and executives. Sarah is a member of VASTA, the Voice & Speech Teachers’ Association, and had an article about voice published in their highly esteemed academic journal Voice & Speech Review in 2020.

Sarah’s training with the world renowned Kristin Linklater took 5 years in total and included numerous private voice lessons and weekend teacher training workshops in NYC with Master Teacher Andrea Haring; Alexander Technique lessons with Kelly McEvenue and Nadia Kevan; singing lessons with Alexandra Garrison; piano lessons; basic anatomy; apprentice voice teaching at Shakespeare & Co. in Massachusetts; moving to NYC to observe Ms. Linklater teaching voice to her MFA Acting students at Columbia University; and a 6 week designation course with Kristin and 15 other voice teachers from around the world. She is very grateful for the generous grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to complete that final, most important part of her studies. In 2019, Sarah attended a one week Continued Professional Development Course with Kristin and an international group of Founding Member Teachers at the Kristin Linklater Voice Centre in Scotland and in 2020, she took a wonderful on-line voice & phonetics class with Master Teacher Louis Colaianni. In 2022, she took a movement class with Merry Conway.

RESUME

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Private Lessons

Sarah is available for individual voice lessons by way of zoom or in-person. Online lessons include a downloadable recording so the client can review and

Retreats

Check back here in early 2024 for details about the next Fall Voice Retreat, presently scheduled for September 13 to 15, 2024 at the absolutely stunning Kingfisher Bay Retreat Centre in North Kawartha, Ontario!

Upcoming Classes, Workshops & Events

Sarah posts all her upcoming workshops here, you are looking in the right place! Read on for info about 2023 voice classes.

People Are
Saying...

Sarah Weatherwax is my career-long, trusted voice teacher. My voice is my career, and I only go to Sarah. She is THE voice teacher for the working actor, as far as I’m concerned. I go to Sarah for both private lessons and workshops, and like a dancer and her trusted dance teacher, Sarah keeps me in perfect form. She is so well trained, so experienced and a voice artist herself, I benefit immediately. I am often told by directors: you have a great voice. And I know it’s a lot due to working with Sarah. She’s a treasure.

Anne Marie Scheffler

Actor / Writer / Comedian / Voice Artist

Sarah’s acute sensitivity to the nuances of voice, as well as her curious and non-judgemental attitude, have helped me to release my voice more fully in my singing and spoken-word practices. With practice, I have increased my range by a pitch and a half in both my upper and lower registers, and I have developed a stronger ability to translate written words into meaningful sound. In addition to the improvements that I have experienced in my professional performance practice, Sarah’s commitment to honest voice communication and holistic thinking have allowed me to integrate the Linklater method into all of my daily communications. I feel more confident in my ability to identify internal emotions and express them through my voice, and to speak my intentions simply and directly.

Rebecca Bruton

Multi-Disciplinary Performer, Teacher, and Arts facilitator

Sarah has the enviable ability to truly challenge her students, while also maintaining a safe, fun space to grow and learn. She thoroughly understands the physical mechanics of the voice, as well as the psychological aspects of this work, and I trust her implicitly.

Martha Girvin

Actor

Sarah Weatherwax is an incredible voice teacher. The students I refer to her for private lessons consistently return to their scene work more able to inhabit their character’s situation and let it transform them. They are more willing to let feelings and thoughts flow through their voices with ease, which in turn allows them to be more fully present. And the full day workshops she teaches are truly inspiring. Her relaxed, open teaching style allows her students to ask a lot of themselves without fear of judgement. She really does reconnect her students with the joy in this work, all the while addressing very specific voice/body issues for each person and giving them practical exercises to continue working on their own. What a great way to spend a day!

Jock MacDonald

President and head artistic coach of Straeon FilmWorks, Inc.

Working with Sarah has been invaluable to my creative process. Her work allows you to truly open up, allowing for character and emotion to emerge organically. I know that any time I am facing a challenging acting role or creative block, I will turn to Sarah for technique and guidance.

Katherine Cullen

Actor, Toronto

Sarah’s Linklater workshop helped introduce me to a whole new world of voice and body excercises and techniques which has lead me to discover a whole new world of characters available to me. This has lead to more professional work. Sarah’s teaching style and attention to detail have helped me refine my craft and the ability to develop more tools in my belt on my journey as a storyteller!

Jean Bernard

Actor/writer/director/editor, Montreal

What I loved most about Sarah’s workshop was how much I learned from everyone else’s discoveries as well as my own. Sarah has a way of honing in on what an individual needs to focus on while making it applicable to the entire group.

Denise Watt

Actor/writer, Montreal

When my regular audition coach moved away in the summer of 2017, and a Shakespeare audition for a renowned company came up, I called Sarah Weatherwax for coaching. Sarah has a strong background in classical theatre, is a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher and shares my history with the techniques of the internationally acclaimed Shakespeare & Company.Working with Sarah was an excellent choice. Her experience as a voice teacher proved its value in the work we did together. “Together” may be the operative word there; I felt supported, encouraged, pushed and free to be at my most creative. She helped me craft an audition that I felt very good about. I delivered a strong audition that made the casting director take notice…and made me feel good about what I have to offer to potential engagers. Sarah is my new “go-to” coach for all auditions now. I’d strongly recommend her for any audition: comic or serious, contemporary or classical.

David Frisch

Actor & Producer, Toronto

Sarah, I just wanted to thank you for a tremendous weekend. I learned so much, and can’t wait for you to come back to Boston! It was time and money so well spent. I so appreciated your gentle nature, your commitment to using our time wisely, and to tailoring the feedback to each of us.I also wanted to say how incredible your work with J was. I have long wondered if he has Asperger’s. He carries himself with the same physical tension and muscular tightness as my son (who has AS) and eye contact is difficult for him too. People with AS have expressed how they feel “boxed in.” They just can’t look people in the eye, as it physically overwhelms them. Watching J face his tensions, stories, and pain and struggle to find his voice, hit close to home for me. Watching him shake and overcome the tightness, at least for those minutes with you, was very moving. I think you handled it gently but firmly—and it was amazing to watch.

Alyson Muzila

Actor, Boston, Mass.

Sarah’s Voice and Text class is transformational. Through the 8 weeks, I was able to fnd a deep sense of connection to my body and voice working with the Linklater technique. From there, the exploration of text is exciting and new; I found interesting depth over and over again.”

Alexa Houle

Actor/Artist/Filmmaker

V&T has had a great impact on my voice. Sarah’s guidance through Zoom is amazing and although she is not in the same room with you, she sees and hears everything and her feedback is spot-on. The rich pallet of the exercises is built around a clear structure that Sarah encourages you to understand. So at the end of the course you have tools to work independently on your voice as an actor.

Ksenia Marasanova

Actor & Singer

Thank you so much for your X-Session on Vocal Freedom & Flexibility last Tuesday for the VO Atlanta conference. You packed an amazing amount of information into our short time together. I think my favorite takeaway is to live in a space of observation not judgment. I spent the remainder of the week at the conference in that observation headspace and know that I was able to learn more thanks to your advice. Along with the stretches, I am also benefiting from your advice to look forward “at my height” instead of holding my head-up all the time. I can feel a difference in my neck and shoulder muscles and also hear the difference on my voice recordings. I am sending Gerald an email next to let him know how fantastic your X-Session was. Thank you for your kind generosity.

Penny Ritter Bromley / Voice Actor

Private Lessons

Sarah is available for individual voice lessons by way of zoom or in-person. Online lessons include a downloadable recording so the client can review and practice the exercises they learn on their own. In person lessons are offered in her new backyard studio in the east end of Toronto, equipped with HVAC and an air purifier with UV light. Her studio has heat and AC so her clients are comfortable. This lovely teaching space opens out to a covered patio area and is disinfected before in-person work. In person lessons will be suspended whenever it does not seem safe or reasonable to offer them, in which case clients can continue their work with Sarah online. Having a backyard studio has allowed Sarah to be more flexible about her work hours than when she was working in her living room, allowing her to work with actors from all over the world. Please email Sarah at sweatherwax@rogers.com for rates and availability for individual lessons online or in-person, to discuss health and safety protocols or to request a free consult online or by phone. And remember, a free, flexible voice is beneficial to anyone, not just actors.

Retreats

It's a little too soon to confirm the next Voice Retreat, but keep the weekend of Sept. 13 to 15, 2024 open and check back here in early 2024 for more information!

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The Weekend Voice Retreat is held at the quiet Kingfisher Bay Retreat Centre on 27 acres of forested land. Check-in is on Friday afternoon, and check-out on Sunday afternoon. All meals, private accommodations and hours of voice classes are included in the price. Bring your own wine or beer.

When you are not warming up your voice, working on your text or doing group exercises in voice class, there are hiking trails and kayaks, ping-pong and table soccer, a bonfire pit and hammock, a hot tub and an indoor wood-burning fireplace, a piano and guitars, a library room and a screened-in porch.

Free your natural voice in a natural setting. Develop your talent and do little else. You will leave this special weekend feeling better about your body, your voice, and your gifts.

A free voice leans our bodies towards health, our minds toward clarity,
our voices toward sincerity and our souls toward creativity.

Upcoming Classes, Workshops & Events

Sarah posts all her upcoming workshops here, you are looking in the right place! Read on for info about 2023 voice classes.

The Summer Voice & Text Intensives in beautiful Den Bosch, Netherlands were absolutely fabulous!

Meisner Toneelacademie in Den Bosch, NL is an established, respected acting studio for career actors and career-minded actors in training. Linklater Voice Work compliments the Meisner method so well. Talent is given a physical method for release from the body on vibrations. I am delighted and grateful to be part of the Team at this wonderful studio.

Click HERE to learn more about two in-person 3-day intensives offered in August 2023 in The Netherlands, an absolutely beautiful part of the world.

Students learned repeatable, specific Voice & Body exercises to gently free their speaking Voices. Each participant also received individual text-coaching, so they could deepen their instinctive connection to text and let their voices go wherever the imagined circumstances took it.

These workshops were taught in English.

Both Workshops sold out !

WORKSHOP A - sold out !

August 23, 24 & 25, 10 AM to 6PM (latest) CET with breaks.

WORKSHOP B - sold out !

August 27, 28 & 29, 10 AM to 6PM (latest) CET with breaks.

Fee: 385 Euros

For more information go to https://meisneracademie.nl/linklater

To register or ask questions, please email info@meisneracademie.nl

VOICE & TEXT

with Designated Linklater Voice Teacher

Sarah Weatherwax

Develop your talent, meet like-minded people, feel good about your voice.

Although this class is well-suited to those with previous experience of Linklater voice work, it is also a very approachable introduction to this world-renowned method for those with little or no previous voice training. Non-performers are welcome. Relaxed, professional environment 🙂

10 consecutive Wednesday afternoons from 1PM to 4PM ET, beginning September 27, 2023. Online, live participation class by way of Zoom.

All sections of the actors' warm-up will be touched on in this class, from the beginning (spinal alignment; breath awareness; open sound; humming) to the middle (releasing lower jaw tension; tongue & soft palate stretches; chest, mouth, teeth resonance) to the end (breath capacity, upper resonators, range, skull, articulation).

Text coaching is part of this class too. By working on a short piece from a published/produced play or movie, participants start to understand the direct effect of a freer voice on acting. This work encourages inner relaxation and outer activation of the body's musculature at the same time, leaving you ready for work. Whether you are a stage, screen, voice actor or any combination, this class has something for you. Vocal freedom means more choices in your acting. Let your voice go where the text takes it.

A free voice leads to an open readiness for acting, making real listening and emotional accessibility easier, instinctive responses quicker and physical and vocal transformation more believable.

The structure of this class is simple. There is enough time to teach - with some integrity - a practice-able approach to each section of the work. There is time to work with people individually on deepening their vocal connection to text so their acting becomes more instinctive. And time is allowed for the organic, spontaneous ebb & flow of a class in the performing arts. Every moment is a collaborative, creative act.

“V&T has had a great impact on my voice. Sarah’s guidance through Zoom is amazing and although she is not in the same room with you, she sees and hears everything and her feedback is spot-on. The rich pallet of the exercises is built around a clear structure that Sarah encourages you to understand. So at the end of the course you have tools to work independently on your voice as an actor.” Ksenia Marasanova, Actor & Singer

CLASS DETAILS:

Dates & Times: Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18 & 25, Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29. *All classes are live participation on zoom, Wednesdays from 1 to 4PM ET.

(*Please discuss with Sarah if you have one or two conflicts. Arrangements may be made to participate by way of the class recordings, if needed. In that case, participants need to view & review the recording before the next live class.)

Registration: E-mail Sarah a brief note of interest with your resume and mention applicable discounts. Please pay after Sarah has responded to your email.

Payments: Accepted by E-transfer from Canadian clients and by PayPal from international clients. Price includes tax & PayPal fees. Payments go to sweatherwax@rogers.com

Deadline: Please register & pay by Sept. 20. Enrollment is limited.

**Inquiries welcome until class start date, pending availability.**

Class Price: Canadians, $450 CAD by E-transfer. International, $455 CAD by PayPal.

*Discount Price, ACTRA/CAEA/Straeon/Repeat V & T students: Canadians, $425 CAD by E-transfer. International, $430 CAD by PayPal.

*Proof of current union/Straeon membership expected before discount is applied. Discounts also honoured for members of international Actors' Unions. Only one discount offer per person.*

Brief Bio: Sarah has taught voice for the actor for almost 20 years, working at numerous studios & schools including Brock University, Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts, Straeon Acting Studios in Toronto, Montreal & Boston and Meisner Academie in the Netherlands. She has extensive experience as a theatre and voice actor.

Sarah Weatherwax - Member CAEA/ACTRA/VASTA

E-mail sweatherwax@rogers.com any questions or to request a free consult.

“Sarah’s Voice and Text class is transformational. Through the 8 weeks, I was able to find a deep sense of connection to my body and voice working with the Linklater technique. From there, the exploration of text is exciting and new; I found interesting depth over and over again.” Alexa Houle, Actor/Artist/Filmmaker

Experience the joy and the power of knowing you can express anything and everything through the vibrations of your voice.

Free your voice. Free your talent. Free yourself.

Pay What You Can Voice Classes, 2023

These PWYC voice classes are offered in support of under-employed actors & singers, but are open to anyone. If you have never worked on your voice and are curious, this is a good way to explore your speaking voice without a big commitment.

No previous voice training required. Great review and refresher for experienced performers too.

Review/learn some of the basics: spinal alignment; breath awareness; open sound; humming; lip flutters. Open more space in your body for breath and voice. Gently improve the range & variety of your speaking voice.

On-line, live participation by way of Zoom. Relaxed, professional environment.

One more PWYC class this Spring on the final Thursday evening of June:

Thursday, June 29, 5 to 7PM ET

Register & pay: No sooner than one week in advance, send a brief email with your name and the date of the class you would like to attend. Then make a payment to sweatherwax@rogers.com no later than one hour before the class start time. Once you register & pay, you will receive an email with all the details and the Zoom link. Payments accepted by E-transfer from Canadian clients and by PayPal from international clients.

These classes are not continuous, they are stand-alone classes. Please register and pay for each one separately.

Class Price: Pay What You Can ! Suggested – $25 CAD per class by E-transfer, $5 more by PayPal.

Online classes are paused during the summer months, although work with private clients continues year-round. Please do not hesitate to email at any time regarding individual lessons, online or in-person.

Monthly PWYC classes, and the extended, in-depth Voice & Text class, will resume in the Fall of 2023.

Fall PWYC Class Schedule: Join me for a fun, easy-going voice class on the 3rd Thursday of the month from September to December, 2023.

Thursday September 21, 5 to 7PM ET

Thursday October 19, 5 to 7PM ET

Thursday November 16, 5 to 7PM ET

Thursday December 21, 5 to 7PM ET

Some general notes about group online voice classes.

The method Sarah teaches is designed - and proven effective - for adult clients. Children and teens are encouraged to work with acting & singing teachers. Work on their speaking voices can begin when they are in their 20s.

Usually Sarah offers fall and spring classes but the schedule varies, as is the way with her multi-faceted career. She welcomes requests from acting studios for either her 4-week Basic Voice Class (a good intro for new clients, and a good refresher for those with some experience) or the more Advanced Voice and Text Class. She can also tailor a group voice class to meet the specific needs or schedule of a studio or group, so do not hesitate to request a free consultation.

Sarah is associated with Straeon Acting Studios based in Canada and the US and Meisner Academie in the Netherlands. Please enquire about special offers for members of those studios or members of actors' unions such as CAEA, ACTRA, AEA, SAG or AFTRA.

Voice Teaching

Sarah Weatherwax Voice Teaching

Bio

Click To Learn More...

Private Lessons

Retreats

Upcoming Classes, Workshops & Events

People Are Saying...

Private Lessons

Retreats

Upcoming Classes, Workshops & Events

Contact Sarah

People Are
Saying...