ACCENT
Accents Run Deep. They are intricately woven into the fabric of our whole selves (perhaps even our ancestral selves, or cells), on every level, from sound to physical gesture, posture, thoughts, attitudes, feelings, the whole shebang.
Accent is something you can simply put on, or something you can take in. The choice is yours.
Accent and dialect coaching for actors.
Russell regularly gives accent masterclasses to industry professionals and trainees, equipping them with the skills to break down accents and learn them for themselves. He helps you to identify the specifics of useful accents such as RP, Cockney, General American, and Irish accents, whilst also fostering appreciation of the deeper underlying characteristics involved.
Accent Reduction for actors and non-actors.
Accent reduction means helping people more effectively achieve 'intelligibility', using contemporary approaches to skillful speech, (as opposed to rigid antiquated approaches to 'correct' elocution) where certain aspects of their speech is preventing them from effectively integrating in the workplace and elsewhere. Clear concise understanding of relevant elements, practical tools to achieve and work towards regular use of new speech habits of choice, with awareness of the deeper underlying implications of vocal 'accentuation' in terms of physical/psychological/cultural identity and habits.
Dialect coaching work for Film and T.V includes the series Vikings (2014), Clean Break (RTE 2015), Pilgrimage (2015), and Out of Innocence (2015).
Russell regularly gives accent masterclasses to industry professionals and trainees, equipping them with the skills to break down accents and learn them for themselves. He helps you to identify the specifics of useful accents such as RP, Cockney, General American, and Irish accents, whilst also fostering appreciation of the deeper underlying characteristics involved.
Accent Reduction for actors and non-actors.
Accent reduction means helping people more effectively achieve 'intelligibility', using contemporary approaches to skillful speech, (as opposed to rigid antiquated approaches to 'correct' elocution) where certain aspects of their speech is preventing them from effectively integrating in the workplace and elsewhere. Clear concise understanding of relevant elements, practical tools to achieve and work towards regular use of new speech habits of choice, with awareness of the deeper underlying implications of vocal 'accentuation' in terms of physical/psychological/cultural identity and habits.
Dialect coaching work for Film and T.V includes the series Vikings (2014), Clean Break (RTE 2015), Pilgrimage (2015), and Out of Innocence (2015).
TESTIMONIALS
"A great voice coach is a kind of scout who tracks and hears the echoes of the human heart and history and then helps it speak. Russel is a great scout! "
Fiona Shaw 2015 after Filming 'Out of Innocence' in Galway.
" Russel is a brilliant dialect coach and a pleasure to work with. His help was invaluable to me and he was able to get me to where I needed to be in a very short space of time. He is industrious, thorough and fun and works in whichever way suits you!"
Alun Armstrong 2015 after Filming 'Out of Innocence' in Galway.
I joined Russel for a Group Accent Workshop on a sunny Saturday in Dublin recently. Upon meeting Russel it is obvious from the outset that this man knows his Art inside out. Everyone in the Group had a very different reason to be there, but we were not disappointed with the tailoring of the lessons to suit each person's own expectations of the workshop that day. Russell's unique delivery style quickly eased us all into a relaxed environment in which to begin expressing our own inner accents! The technical aspects of developing new accents were all carefully thought out and his instructions were easy and fun to follow. I went away that day with a new exciting skill to build on and to add to my Acting C.V. I would highly recommend Accent Training with Russel to Actors of all levels. Thanks again Russell!
Glenda Millar,Dublin July 2014.
Accent Training Workshop with Russel Smith: A fantastic workshop! I thoroughly enjoyed it and the day went by really quickly. I was fascinated by Russel's charismatic personality and knowledge as well as his fresh and needs centered teaching approach to Accent and Voice training. The course was informative - in Theory and Practice of Voice Projection as well as Accent Development - but also funny, lively, clear and well structured. I think I am not just speaking for myself that we all hugely benefitted from this 1-Day workshop and I can highly recommend it, not only to professional actors but to anyone who wants to explore his or her voice and to develop any kind of accent required. Russell is a brilliant and enthusiastic teacher who certainly had my full attention for the day -
Dagmar Grogan-Baar, Dublin July 2014.
Hello, I am just writing to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself and really learned a lot from Russell yesterday in his Accent masterclass. His way of teaching was so insightful yet simple and easy to understand. I definitely have taken away so much to help further me in my career and I'm really grateful. I want to thank the Russell for the help and I hope to take more classes available. Many thanks,
Matt Cassidy, Dublin July 2015.
"A great voice coach is a kind of scout who tracks and hears the echoes of the human heart and history and then helps it speak. Russel is a great scout! "
Fiona Shaw 2015 after Filming 'Out of Innocence' in Galway.
" Russel is a brilliant dialect coach and a pleasure to work with. His help was invaluable to me and he was able to get me to where I needed to be in a very short space of time. He is industrious, thorough and fun and works in whichever way suits you!"
Alun Armstrong 2015 after Filming 'Out of Innocence' in Galway.
I joined Russel for a Group Accent Workshop on a sunny Saturday in Dublin recently. Upon meeting Russel it is obvious from the outset that this man knows his Art inside out. Everyone in the Group had a very different reason to be there, but we were not disappointed with the tailoring of the lessons to suit each person's own expectations of the workshop that day. Russell's unique delivery style quickly eased us all into a relaxed environment in which to begin expressing our own inner accents! The technical aspects of developing new accents were all carefully thought out and his instructions were easy and fun to follow. I went away that day with a new exciting skill to build on and to add to my Acting C.V. I would highly recommend Accent Training with Russel to Actors of all levels. Thanks again Russell!
Glenda Millar,Dublin July 2014.
Accent Training Workshop with Russel Smith: A fantastic workshop! I thoroughly enjoyed it and the day went by really quickly. I was fascinated by Russel's charismatic personality and knowledge as well as his fresh and needs centered teaching approach to Accent and Voice training. The course was informative - in Theory and Practice of Voice Projection as well as Accent Development - but also funny, lively, clear and well structured. I think I am not just speaking for myself that we all hugely benefitted from this 1-Day workshop and I can highly recommend it, not only to professional actors but to anyone who wants to explore his or her voice and to develop any kind of accent required. Russell is a brilliant and enthusiastic teacher who certainly had my full attention for the day -
Dagmar Grogan-Baar, Dublin July 2014.
Hello, I am just writing to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself and really learned a lot from Russell yesterday in his Accent masterclass. His way of teaching was so insightful yet simple and easy to understand. I definitely have taken away so much to help further me in my career and I'm really grateful. I want to thank the Russell for the help and I hope to take more classes available. Many thanks,
Matt Cassidy, Dublin July 2015.
