ACCENTS INTENSIVE #4- “Which American Accent?”

A three-day workshop in So-Called-General-American and various other American Accents

With Phil Thompson and Andrea Caban

Montreal, July 30-August 1 , 2015

This intensive three-day workshop, for actors, voice and speech teachers, dialect coaches, will apply the innovative techniques of Knight-Thompson Speechwork to the acquisition of three specific American accents, including So-Called-General-American and some work on “Hoser Patrol”, shining a light on Canadianisms that stand out to an American ear. New York, Southern American & Minnesota accents will also be covered. The physical focus of Knight-Thompson Speechwork allows actors and other professional voice users to learn accents much faster than with older techniques. Speakers using this approach can speak skillfully in the target accent, without exaggeration or self-consciousness.

Unlike “Experiencing Accents,”this workshop will be focused exclusively on gaining proficiency in the target accents (rather than on methodology), and will include plenty of time for individual instruction. Participants should be prepared with short monologues or texts appropriate for two or more of the target accents—all three, if possible. Extensive resources on the three accents—encompassing primary source audio files, text breakdowns and exercises—will be provided to all participants.

Participants do not need to have taken any prior Knight-Thompson workshops, and no background in phonetics is necessary for participation (though we will be using IPA in our descriptions of characteristic sounds). Individuals who have taken “Experiencing Speech” and “Experiencing Accents,” however, and who are considering applying for the Knight-Thompson Speechwork Certification program, may be particularly interested in the intensive practical application of the work and the focused individual instruction.

The workshop will be held in Montreal and online. The days will run from 10:00 to 6:00, with an hour break for lunch. Saturday’s session will end at 4:oo to accommodate travel home. The total cost for the workshop is $400. Spots are strictly limited.

Questions to knightthompsonspeechwork@gmail.com

Workshop Costs

$400

In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason we ask for a deposit of $100 to secure your place in the workshop. This is due by June 18th. The full payment is due July 9th. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $75 if you inform us before July 20th. After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly. You will receive your receipt at the workshop.