Freeing the Natural Voice
Kristin Linklater's comprehensive approach to releasing the voice from habitual tension
Overview
Freeing the Natural Voice by Kristin Linklater is a comprehensive voice training manual that focuses on removing the physical and psychological tensions that inhibit the natural voice. Linklater's method is one of the two dominant approaches to voice training in professional actor training programs.
The book provides a detailed, progressive sequence of exercises that work through the body from breath to resonance to articulation. Linklater's approach is deeply connected to emotional and imaginative freedom, not just vocal mechanics.
How It Works
Essential for serious actors committed to long-term vocal development, especially those pursuing classical theater or any work that demands exceptional vocal range and stamina.
Available in an expanded edition, typically priced between $20-25. The updated version includes new exercises and reflections from Linklater's continued teaching experience.
Who Uses It
A cornerstone of professional voice training. Actors who commit to Linklater's exercises over time will discover vocal capabilities they did not know they possessed, along with a deeper connection to their emotional instrument. Linklater's work, alongside Cicely Berry's, represents one of the two major schools of thought in professional voice training for actors, and most graduate acting programs in the United States teach one or both approaches. The book's influence extends far beyond theater — Linklater-trained voice teachers work in film, television, public speaking, therapy, and corporate communication. What distinguishes Linklater's approach from purely technical vocal training is her deep conviction that the voice is an expression of the whole person, and that freeing the voice requires addressing the emotional and psychological patterns that restrict self-expression, not just the muscular ones.
Pricing & Plans
Freeing the Natural Voice is available in an expanded and revised edition from Drama Publishers, typically priced between $20 and $25 for a new paperback copy. The expanded edition, published in 2006, includes new exercises, updated language, and additional reflections from Linklater's continued teaching experience, making it the preferred version over the original 1976 edition. Used copies of the expanded edition are available for $12 to $18. Digital editions are available for Kindle at approximately $15 to $20. The original 1976 edition can be found used for under $10 but lacks the expanded material. For a comprehensive voice training manual that provides enough material for years of practice, the price represents exceptional value — Linklater voice training workshops can cost several hundred dollars per session. Designated Linklater Voice teachers offer certification programs, but the book provides sufficient foundation for meaningful independent practice.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Linklater's greatest achievement is creating a systematic, progressive voice training method that addresses the whole person — body, breath, emotion, imagination — rather than treating the voice as a mechanical instrument to be tuned and adjusted. The exercises are meticulously sequenced, building from the most fundamental breath and relaxation work through resonance, range extension, and articulation in a way that ensures each stage rests on a solid foundation. Her writing about the psychological and emotional dimensions of voice work is profound and honest, acknowledging that freeing the voice often involves confronting deeply held patterns of self-protection and inhibition. The expanded edition's additional exercises and reflections add significant value, showing how Linklater's thinking evolved over thirty years of continued teaching and research. The book provides enough detailed instruction for meaningful independent practice, which is rare in voice training texts that often require a teacher's presence to be fully useful. Linklater's influence on professional actor training is immense — her work has shaped how voice is taught at Juilliard, Columbia, NYU, and dozens of other leading programs.
What Could Be Better
The book's comprehensive, progressive structure means it is long and requires sustained commitment — actors looking for quick vocal fixes or short exercise sequences will find the depth overwhelming rather than helpful. Linklater's approach demands a level of physical and psychological openness that some actors find challenging, particularly those who are not accustomed to the kind of body-based emotional exploration the exercises require. The text-only format is a significant limitation for voice training, as vocal and physical exercises are inherently difficult to convey through written description without audio or video demonstration. Some exercises, particularly those involving deep relaxation and emotional release, can bring up unexpected emotional material that actors may not be equipped to process without guidance from a trained teacher. The revised edition, while comprehensive, is organized in a way that can feel dense and academic compared to the more conversational tone of Cicely Berry's writing. Additionally, the Linklater approach is primarily designed for the demands of live theater performance, and actors who work exclusively on camera may find some exercises — particularly those focused on projection and resonance in large spaces — less directly applicable to their work.
Our Recommendation
If you are serious about vocal development as a long-term practice — and every serious actor should be — Freeing the Natural Voice deserves a place on your bookshelf alongside Voice and the Actor by Cicely Berry. It is particularly essential for actors pursuing classical theater, Shakespeare, or any work that requires exceptional vocal range, stamina, and expressive power. MFA students and conservatory actors will find it an invaluable companion to their classroom voice training, providing deeper context for the exercises they practice daily. If you are choosing between Linklater and Berry for your primary voice text, note that Linklater is more comprehensive and psychophysically integrated, while Berry is more practical and immediately accessible — both are excellent, and ideally you should read both over time. If the book's depth feels overwhelming, consider working through it with a study partner or finding a Linklater-trained voice teacher who can guide you through the exercises in person before you continue independently.
Pro Tips
Commit to working through the book's exercise sequence in order rather than skipping ahead to sections that seem more interesting — the progressive structure is intentional and each stage builds on the previous one, so shortcuts will undermine your development. Set aside a regular daily practice time of at least twenty minutes for the vocal exercises, treating them with the same discipline you would give to physical exercise or meditation. Find a space where you can lie on the floor, make noise, and move freely without self-consciousness or interruption — the exercises require physical and psychological safety. Be patient with the process — Linklater's approach is designed for deep, lasting change rather than quick results, and meaningful vocal transformation typically takes months or years of consistent practice. If you experience unexpected emotional responses during the exercises, treat them as a normal part of the process rather than something to be feared or suppressed, but also consider seeking guidance from a trained voice teacher if the experiences feel overwhelming. Supplement your practice with recordings of great vocal performers — listen to how actors like Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, and Cate Blanchett use their voices, and notice the qualities that Linklater's exercises are designed to develop.