About Vocal Movement
A Body-Voice Practice
by Regan O’Brien
Vocal Movement is a body voice consultation practice that distils years of deep, practical investigation and personal experience.
As an actor, artist and singer, using voice has been a fundamental aspect of my professional growth but the role and power of the voice has also fascinated me personally.
Over the years I have travelled through Europe, Africa and Australia to undertake beautiful and challenging research into performance, the physiology of sound making, breathing techniques, traditional song and therapeutic practices relating to voice and movement.
Despite a career in performance my relationship with my own voice was fractured. I have experienced exactly what so many of my clients come to me with – a disconnect between my body, my voice, and how I experience both.
It was when navigating the journey with my own voice that Vocal Movement was born – I wanted to share what I had learned in my studies and on my own journey to help people experience positive change through body-voice work.
Vocal Movement is my personally developed approach that bring togethers expert professional performance praxis with somatic body-voice integration and mindfulness.
Regan O’Brien
- Actor, Teacher, Artist, Singer
- Founder of Vocal Movement Ireland and The Sounding Body workshops
- Qualified Speech and Drama Teacher
- MA in Applied Drama and Performance Studies
- MA in Creative Process Facilitation
- Over 20 years’ experience delivering voice training for professional and personal development across a broad range of industries
“The voice is your most powerful instrument. It resonates at the intersection of the body, breath, movement and imagination – a highly versatile tool for communication, healing and self-expression.”
“The sessions are definitely tapping into some kind of childlike innocence around sound or movement. I come out of them lighter and brighter. It makes me less self-conscious. Something definitely shifts, the play and gentleness of this is working some magic. Thank you very much for the science-y bits too.”
Niamh Gleeson
My Journey with Voice
by Regan O’Brien
My own journey with voice has been one of the most rewarding challenges of my life.
I grew up around music and singing at home. But I never felt like I was good enough to join in.
In the safe space of my bedroom, I sang along with tapes of Joni Mitchell, Madonna, David Bowie, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Karen Dalton, Talking Heads…
I sang loud when there was nobody there. I danced deeply and with absolute dedication. Feeling the music in my body. I dreamed of playing with a band to an audience.
I really wanted to be heard doing the thing I loved.
When it came to conversation with other people I felt extreme anxiety. I wouldn’t start a conversation, I couldn’t respond properly, I trailed off at the end of sentences. I had no sense that anyone would want to hear what I had to say. And I had STUFF TO SAY!!
I developed unhealthy strategies to cope with this anxiety. Not only were they unhealthy, they just didn’t work!
I trained in Speech and Drama Studies. I became obsessed with the physiology of sound making and wrote my dissertation on pre-verbal modes of communication. Sounds, Intentions and Feelings!
I became a performer. I danced and I sang within the framework of the Theatrical Stage. I acted on TV, Film and Radio.
But in my daily life I still suffered.
I began to investigate this self-esteem, self-confidence issue through a range of voice, movement and therapeutic practices. I travelled extensively and trained in many different styles of voice and movement practice with exceptional practitioners. I began to use my art work as a vehicle for self-discovery and self-actualization.
I started to perform my research artistically. I could feel a change happening within me.
“Breath is the primary action, the source of life. When we bring conscious attention to the breath, we change it.”
I was connecting the sound I made to the sensation of making it.
That was real. I could feel it. I could ground myself in it. I knew it.
Vibrational singing. Resonance practice. Public Speaking. Songs of tradition. Speech Therapy. Art Therapy, spiritual voice, healing voice, Hardcore noise improvisation. Rock songs. You name it!
I learned, taught and practiced for decades. And the most important thing I learned throughout this journey? Self-compassion!
I practice compassion to myself every day. And I bring that compassion every time I work with others.
That’s what makes the space safe for you to lower your defences, and let your voice be heard.
Now I sing anywhere, given the chance. I lecture in voice and movement practices. I teach and facilitate community groups through art and embodied voice.
I give workshops in the corporate sector empowering people who need to learn strategies for speaking into board level.
Its my thing. I do it every day.
My dad always said that the Human voice is the most powerful instrument on earth. He is right!
My work with my voice has given me an art practice, a profession and a sense of who I am in the world.
My clients report similar experiences.
I absolutely love working with my clients. Each new voice I meet is a new learning journey for me. I am grateful for your openness and generousity of spirit.
If you would like to chat about your own vocal journey.
If you are looking for some support and training.
I would LOVE to hear what you have to say.
“When we pay attention to the dynamic relationship between our moving body and our breath, our imagination and the associations which emerge, voice can simply happen in a spontaneous and joyful way”
