Dialects and Accents in the Singing Studio: Challenges & Choices

How do actors convincingly switch accents, and what happens when singing enters the mix? In Ep.216 voice teacher, researcher and spoken voice expert Louisa Morgan returns to explore the rich world of accents and dialects—from phonetics and oral posture to emotional authenticity and ethical considerations. Louisa dives into the challenges singers face when shifting from speech to song in character, how to manage biases, and why understanding your own “home” sounds is key.


WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST

2:35 What actually are accents and dialects?
7:37 What makes an accent easier vs difficult to learn?
15:05 How can we understand accent mapping?
22:51 Speaking Vs Singing in an accent
30:58 What are the challenges of teaching a singer who has a different accent to you?
36:09 What ethical considerations are required?
41:16 Getting to grips with IPA
46:32 Louisa’s favourite resources
48:29 Live accent and dialect coaching


RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Singing Teachers Talk Podcast Ep.109 Mastering ‘Acting Through Song’ Techniques to Elevate Musical Theatre Performance
Voice Study Centre
Guildford School of Acting
IPA
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang
Singing Teachers Talk Ep.194 From Jersey to Bali: Relocating a Singing Teaching Business
How to Do Accents by Edda Sharpe and Jan Hayden Rowles
Knight Thompson
Phonetics by J D O’Connor
The Experiencing Accents Book Knight Thompson
Phonetics by Peter Roach
Accents and Dialects for Stage and Screen by Paul Meier
International Dialects of English Archive
Killing Eve
Estill
VASTA Conference


ABOUT THE GUEST

Louisa Morgan is a lecturer, voice teacher, and researcher specialising in spoken and sung emotion. She teaches with the Voice Study Centre (as Spoken Voice Lead) and she is also completing a PhD in emotion in Acting Through Song with Guildford School of Acting. Louisa has taught at institutions including Italia Conti and the Cygnet Training Theatre, alongside 15 years of private coaching. She holds an MA in Vocal Pedagogy, a diploma in Acting with Directing, and a BA in English and Literary Studies. Louisa is a Vocal Process accredited teacher and former editor of AOTOS. She has presented at PEVoC and will speak at the 2025 VASTA conference.


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Website: https://www.louisajmorgan.co.uk/
Instagram:
Contact Louisa Directly: [email protected]

Book a place on one of Louisa’s courses HERE: https://www.voicestudycentre.com/dire...


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