ABOUT laura
Laura Suzanne Bock is a voice and singing coach from the UK, based in Ballantyne, Charlotte, North Carolina. With over a decade of experience teaching in London, Hong Kong, and Dubai, she offers lessons both online and in person, from her home studio in Ballantyne.
A seasoned performer herself, Laura is a graduate of the prestigious MFA Voice Studies course at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London. When teaching, her primary focus is always on vocal health. Once a voice is healthy, free, and being used effectively, the doors are opened to a world of vocal possibilities, both in the performing arts and the corporate worlds.
Throughout her years of teaching, Laura has been so proud to see her students graduate from conservatories such as Arts Ed (Arts Educational Schools London) and Mountview; go on to the West End stage; break on to Broadway; secure performing contracts at Disney; receive outstanding results in LAMDA, ABRSM and Rockschool grades; thrive in the corporate workplace; and yet her proudest achievement is always to hear, “Wow, I never knew that! My voice feels and sounds so much better!”
As well as teaching privately, Laura is thrilled to be joining the team at Theatre Gap Initiative, founded by Tony Award winner Corey Mitchell. Through this outstanding organisation, she hopes to see many more students fulfil their dreams of performing at the very top level.
Although primarily focused on her teaching, Laura also loves to perform in concerts and musicals. Her most recent role was the Fairy Godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and her favourite role to date has to be Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
The greatest accomplishment as a voice teacher is to know that your student has left the room with a better understanding of their own voice, and how to use it safely and effectively. To then witness those students excel in their chosen path is the icing on the cake.
Laura works with students of all abilities, age 12+
She also runs both performance-based and corporate voice workshops.
What to expect when working with laura
Lessons with Laura can be conducted either online or in person, from her home studio in Ballantyne, Charlotte, North Carolina.
In the first meeting, Laura will take the time to hear your hopes and expectations from voice lessons, whilst assessing your vocal health and skillset.
Laura’s primary goal is not to change your voice, but to improve your voice. Our voices are so personal to us, and a huge part of who we are. Whether you seek accent work (for performances or for day to day life), singing expertise, presentation skills, or help with projection and diction, Laura will work with the foundation of your voice and build from there.
Through her training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and having worked with leading practitioners such as Cicely Berry, Barbara Houseman, and Anne-Marie Speed (The Estill Method), Laura boasts a vast knowledge of vocal anatomy and the science behind how the voice works. However, she excels at explaining complex concepts in an accessible way. Some students like to know all the details; some prefer to use imagery as a way to understand - both are accepted and embraced as valid styles of learning in Laura’s lessons!
Laura loves to do show coaching; helping the cast of any given show to use their voices to the best of their ability, both in terms of speaking, singing, and accent. Past show coaching credits include: The Addams Family Musical; Songs for a New World; and The Gruffalo.
She also offers workshops. Examples of previous workshops include:
Voice for Teachers
Vocal Safety for Fitness Professionals
Your Voice in the Workplace
Acting through Song
Vocal Meditation
Belting for Musical Theatre.
Laura works with students of all abilities, age 12+
what can laura help with?
Accent work
Accents and dialects for performance
As a Brit in the States, Laura is in a strong position to help with British accents in particular
Accent ‘softening’ - for those who wish to speak more clearly in day to day life, in English
Note: the aim is not to remove your native accent, but to make certain sounds easier to understand to other English speakers
This is most useful to non-native English speakers, for help either in the workplace or in everyday life
Spoken voice
For performers: stage, screen, and voice-over
or for ‘professional voice users’, meaning anyone who’s voice is a vital aspect of their work. Examples include:
Teachers; Fitness instructors; and any corporate professionals who need to speak in meetings or give presentations
Skills Laura can work on include:
Projection; Presentation skills; Diction; Articulation; Intonation; and Resonance
Singing
Laura specialises in Musical Theatre
She also loves to work with students on Contemporary and Light Classical music
Skills Laura can work on include:
Belting; Resonance; Projection; Articulation; Breathing; and Expression
Audition technique, both for shows and for BFA / conservatory / college programs
Exam prep (over the last 5 years, 100% of Laura’s students have received Distinctions - the highest classification - in their ABRSM singing exams).
TESTIMONIALS
QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT.
HAVE QUESTIONS OR JUST WANT TO CHAT? BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION WITH ME.