British RP Accent Coaching

I receive so many enquiries from a wide range of people wanting to acquire British RP (Received Pronunciation) accent sounds…

  • Actors whose native language is not English

  • Actors whose native language is English

  • Professionals who have English as a second language

  • Professionals who have English regional sounds

But all are wishing to acquire a spoken neutral accent sound that will allow their audience to hear the content and not engender comments and questions such as “where do you come from...?”

So, welcome to your first British RP accent session! This is to give you an idea of what to expect should you decide to take the plunge!

What does it entail if you book a British RP coaching session with me?

You can book for an initial session to see if you like the way I teach. You can book for a series of sessions, either 3 or 5 or more.

Sessions are online via Zoom or Google Meet, or face-to-face in North London.

It is always important for me to know a little about your background and why you wish to study RP. And which RP is right for you:

  • Modern RP accent

  • Classical RP accent

  • Heightened RP accent

Often young actors wish to learn Modern RP, while I do find that studying Classical RP is largely embraced by speakers who have English as a second language. Heightened RP is mainly used by actors for period texts and auditions.

How will the British RP coaching work?

Depending on each individual enquiry, face-to-face at my base or online, the process may take a similar route. If you are studying RP for the first time, you will be asked to read a template piece of text which is recorded for reference. This shows what sounds and rhythms you may need help with at the present time. This reading requires no study or ‘putting on” a special voice. It gives us both a clear guide as to where to begin.

The session will continue with clarification of how sounds are made and an introduction to the IPA [International Phonetic Alphabet] which we will use throughout the study. Then we will begin to step into the first major sound needing clarification and change.

Articulation exercises are introduced and explained to help you begin to work your mouth and tongue around the new sounds. I do suggest that a positive, enthusiastic approach will help you “step in” to these exercises! They are pain free! And, I assure you, done in a light hearted way and with very clear guidance on my part. A mirror is provided to help you see clearly that your mouth could be moving around the sounds with just a little more muscularity!

If you are an actor you might take a rather different route to finding RP; you may have studied it previously. Hopefully you are clear as to what type of sounds you wish to study for a role or an upcoming audition.

For everyone studying any accent, leaping in and enjoying the whole process is, I feel, the only way to go!

What is involved in British RP learning?

Repetition is key! Knowing where your habitual sounds will normally take you is also key, so that you can minimise any slip ups! Listening to speakers of RP and to yourself during your coming study is really important. A little homework of 15 minutes each day is better than an hour long push at the end of the week. You will soon experience results which will buoy you onwards and upwards to finding your RP accent sounds.

I do hope this helps to clarify the way I teach and what you will expect on your forthcoming journey towards RP.

I look forward to meeting you!