History

In October of 2009, Linda Brice founded the Transformational Voice™ Training Institute after 30 years experience of teaching voice. Linda had taught privately under the name “Transformational Voice Training” and in several colleges and universities. During this time Linda developed a System of Principles, Techniques, and Methodologies for teaching voice (both speech and singing) that have been proven effective by the success of her students.

The life experiences, struggles and successes of Linda have formed the Institute’s mission, philosophy, and offerings. Its formation was made possible by a legacy from her parents, Vinson and Eleanor Brice. Having given birth to the Institute, it now becomes a vessel for the contributions of like-minded vocalists and multi-disciplinary practitioners, intent on facilitating change in the culture of voice, and its relationship and purpose within society.

Physical, Metaphysical and Holistic

The System is physical, metaphysical, and holistic. Vocalism utilizes the body as its vehicle to produce sound. It is therefore subject to the structure and physical condition of the body, as well as those physical laws that the body’s respiratory and phonation systems are aligned with. Vocalism is therefore physical, athletic, and kinesthetic. As a metaphysical entity, the voice in some mysterious way perfectly mirrors the inner nature and temperament of the vocalist. Learning to read the reflection in the mirror of the voice thus becomes an unparalleled vehicle for inner personal growth, with the resultant rise in awareness of one’s true nature. Vocalism also triggers emotional states that the vocalist both experiences and communicates to others. As a vehicle for communicating the intention of the spoken word, or for pure music, voice is the ultimate messenger – the original instrument! Finally, it is our belief that art and spirituality are fused, and that in the separation that occurred between the two within our culture’s history, art and artists suffered wounding. A true mind-body-spirit practice, vocalism is one of the most challenging and complex of human activities, and one of the most effective means of self-development and consciousness raising.

Process-Oriented

The Institute’s System is process- rather than product-driven. We believe that a beautiful voice is a by-product of a process of freeing the self; that the vocal journey is in actuality a journey of finding one’s authentic and true nature that is mirrored by the voice. This process raises one’s awareness of how the body aligns and attunes itself to the laws of physics that effect sound. It will also bring the vocalist into awareness of their fear, and enable them to develop skills that transcend this fear. Developing a healthier relationship with fear is one of the greatest benefits of study of the System!

Because we acknowledge Source’s role within artistic process and we are also process-oriented, our System is better suited to a private setting rather than a traditional college, university, or conservatory. We do not administer juries, require theses, or grant degrees in voice performance. We do not provide vocational training for the music business, but what we teach may enable a person to survive and even thrive in it. We are most interested in effecting change in vocalism as demonstrated by results. The results we’re interested in facilitating are a free, authentic and easily-produced voice that is inherently beautiful, solid musicianship skills (if a singer), an ability to transcend performance anxiety via meditative breathing skills, and inner changes which variously lead to feelings states of joy, serenity, and empowerment.

Spiritual But Not Religious

The System is a synthesis of many approaches and disciplines—a fusion of the western singing tradition with eastern meditative practice. It is organically and generically spiritual but emphatically non-religious, enabling anyone of any religious tradition or affiliation to feel comfortable. The breath-based, meditative skills learned enable vocalists to speak or sing freely – and thus beautifully—and to transcend performance anxiety. The system is logical, sequential, learnable, and teachable.

Generic

The system is generic, broad, and flexible. It can be applied to either the singing or speaking voice, for male or female vocalists, at any level of training or experience, for professionals or non-professionals, for people who feel they are talented or not, at any age, for any voice type, and applied to any style of singing. Anyone who studies the system will improve from where they started.