American Accent Training
•
for Actors
Were you not raised with a general American accent?
Fantastic! Wherever you’re from, your accent is unique and beautiful. It represents so much about who you are. But as an actor, you're most likely not playing yourself. And if you’re tired of being typecast as "The Sexy Italian" or "The Russian Spy,” then learning the neutral American accent may be just what you need to boost your career!
Jonathan Jose Quintana
Actor
"I’ve been working with Audrey for about two years now, taking classes to develop a more standard American accent in order to expand the range of opportunities for my acting career. Not only has my booking ratio increased tremendously, but also my representation team has noticed the progress on my accent. I cannot stress enough the need of having a standard American accent to compete in such a tough market and can say that Audrey is one of the best if not the best out there. From helping you prepare auditions to working on specific things that will help you particularly, learning with Audrey I feel is a more dynamic and productive experience compared to competition… oh and did I mention that she works remotely? Well she does! Hehehe do yourself a favor and start working with her!"
Here’s how it works
The first time you meet, Audrey will ask you some questions about your background, what you struggle with, and what your goals are.
While you are chatting, she’ll also be jotting down her own list of sounds that make your natural accent different from a standard American one.
Then it’s time to get to work! If you are working on an audition or a role, you’ll begin there. Otherwise, you’ll begin learning the tips and tricks to get your accent accurate! You are welcome to record the sessions on Zoom/Skype so you can rewatch them over and over again.
You can learn a general American accent from Audrey’s online video course or you can have private one-on-one sessions online with her on whatever accent you need. Also check back for upcoming workshops!
coach to the stars
Take a look at some of Audrey's fabulously talented past dialect coaching clients!
From top left:
Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Joe Cole, Miguel Angel Silvestre, Machine Gun Kelly, Iwan Rheon, Daniel Webber, Douglas Booth, Ashton Sanders, Flea, Amy Brenneman, Bokeem Woodbine, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Marque Richardson, Richard Thomas
How often are classes?
It’s up to you!
How many classes you take depends on your goals and the severity of your natural accent. You can have a class once a week, every day, whenever you have an audition, or any option in between. If you are playing American-born characters, it will take much longer than if you just need to be understandable and comfortable acting in English. If English is your first language, the American accent will be faster to learn than if English is your second or third language.
"I have been taking accent reduction classes with Audrey for 2 years now and I feel I have made so much progress! I love her method and the fact that she personalizes the classes according to my needs. When I get an audition, I always work my American accent with her and I feel much more confident when stepping into the room.
She is also incredibly accommodating when I get last minute auditions! (super important for our crazy actors life!).
She is fun, always smiling and in a good mood, I really enjoy working with her!'"
"Audrey has changed my life. I'm an actor here in Los Angeles and English is my second language. After coaching with Audrey my accent has improved and became more clear than it used to be. I am continuing my lessons with her and i can't wait to reach my goals with Audrey. I recommend her to every actor or person that would love to work on an accent or speech."
"First of all I will like to say the best teacher I've ever met, I have been working online with Audrey for several months now and I must say I have improved a lot with my American Accent. She is very patient and helpful and I'm really happy to call her my Tutor and I will recommend anyone who wants to improve their speech or English to work with her. She is very professional and yet funny and make the sessions worth it…thanks Audrey for helping me build my confidence with my speech."
Common Questions
How is your teaching approach different than other dialect coaches?
I want you to be great as much as you do! That's why I really listen to your needs and create a course specifically for you. I'll also often check in with you to make sure that the methods I'm using are working for you. Learning an American accent is a personal journey, and your mouth will react differently to various exercises.
Which American accent do you teach?
There are many variations of the American accent; here you will learn the most neutral one--where no one can tell which region of the US you come from. (This is not the accent you hear in old movies.)
Once you achieve that, we can learn how to alter it for specific regions of the country, for higher/lower class, or for specific character imitations. Already ready to advance to something new? Let me know what region of the US you'd like to learn and we can go from there!
What will I be learning?
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American vowels -
American consonants -
Where to place the sounds -
Which words to stress -
Pitch patterns -
Improvising in the accent -
Monologues, scenes and cold reads -
And anything else specific to your natural accent!
How long will it take to master the American accent?
Unfortunately, there is no straight answer for this. It depends on your mouth's flexibility, your ear, your English level, and your dedication. Because of this, it may take anywhere from three weeks to three years.
For progress, you must practice.
What should I do when I have auditions that need an American accent?
Whenever you have an audition or role that requires the American accent, book a session FIRST THING. If you don't have time to book a session, you can have me record lines for you with or without dialect notes--I usually can get it recorded within 24 hours.
It's important to have your accent work done as quickly as possible, so that you can focus on the acting instead of the accent when the time comes.
If you are enrolled in a regular American accent training course, we will forget whatever I had planned for the day and work on your audition sides. The goal is to get you comfortable with the accent so you can focus on the acting!
How often will we meet for accent training?
You're an adult with your own schedule and finances. That's why I leave this up to you! We can meet as often or seldom as you wish. I have some students I see everyday, and others I see for an audition every couple of months.
If you're wanting to master the American accent, the most effective way is to meet two or three times a week. This way you are fully immersed in the work and we don't have to backtrack as much as when time builds up in between lessons.
Why should I choose you over other coaches?
As a trained and working actor myself, I can help you tremendously by showing you the different accent choices and how it affects your character. I can even give you several different intonation options to choose from so it still feels like it's 100% your performance.
After learning what's necessary, I ensure you feel comfortable and confident acting in the accent. I've taught many well-known celebrities--including an Oscar-winning performance--and I would love to help you as well!
Why are you cheaper than other online dialect coaches?
As an actor myself, I understand how much the costs add up. Headshots, auditions, gasoline, classes, workshops. My classes are of great quality, but for now, I am keeping it at an extremely affordable rate for private actors so you don't have to kill yourself to have more than one class a week! Because that's what I would want as an actor!
That being said, I can get booked out with a waiting list. Make sure you sign up today to reserve your spot!
My actor discount is not extended to productions or on set coaching. In those instances, we will negotiate a rate comparable to the going rate.
What are those weird tongue stretches in your videos?
Just like you go to the gym to improve your strength and flexibility, your mouth has to get a workout as well. In order to change the way you speak, you must start with the muscles in your tongue, jaw, and lips. These get tight or weak like any other part of your body. My teaching revolves around creating awareness in this area instead of just your ears. If you could change your accent just from listening to good speakers, you'd already have perfect speech by now! That's why memorizing the sensations and placements of the sound will set you ahead of the game.
Can you help me master a different accent?
Sure! I also teach American regional accents. Contact me and let me know what you're interested in learning!
Do you teach any international accents, or just American ones?
I can’t afford your video course or a 1-on-1 session. Do you have a book or other free materials?
Want the cheaper, quicker option?
You don't have to wait for Audrey's availability to learn a General American accent with her. Check out her online course!
--Over 40 videos
--Covers all aspects of a general American accent
--Designed for non-native English speakers
--Printable handouts with each video lesson
