"Amanda is a marvelous speech & voice instructor...warm, sensitive, and nurturing. Her skills are first rate, and her positive attitude and gentle guidance make her a wonderful role model for our students." - Rita Litton, ACTeen Inc. Director

My teacher, Susan Patrick, had a special ability to make speech and voice work fun, interactive, and accessible to young people while still giving them the focus, discipline, and patience needed to excel. I try to bring those same qualities to my work, in my classes at ACTeen and with my private students.

> FAQs ABOUT YOUNG CLIENTS
What do you work on?
Is speech training right for my child?
How do you work with Bar & Bat Mitzvahs?

Q. WHAT DO YOU WORK ON?
A. This will vary among students depending on their needs, development, and interests. There are, however, cores issues we may address:

• Breathing - Learning to breathe properly will be a lifelong asset. Beyond making a student's speech clearer and more powerful, it enhances relaxation, stress-reduction, and confidence.
• Physical Relaxation and Posture - More than just "standing up straight," we work to address how the student uses her body, where she holds tension, and what the means are for making the body more relaxed, expressive, and alive.
• Diction - Using tongue twisters, speech exercises, and reading aloud of poems, monologues, and other material that interests the student, we work to minimize mumbling, "dropping off," and other common problems.
• Presentation - If the student is a performer or is preparing to give a speech, we cover eye contact, pace, learning to take time, and what it means to "fill the room" or "project."

Q. IS SPEECH TRAINING RIGHT FOR MY CHILD?
A. Speech training benefits everyone, but young people face special issues. Adolescence is often a stressful time of rapid change, and a student's speech can be affected by that. You may find your child begins to mumble, speak too fast, or slump down so their voice cannot be heard. Or, your child may simply need help preparing for a big speech or event where he'll be "center stage" for the first time.

Whatever the reasons you're seeking a speech coach, I think it's a good idea to include your child in the search process. You want a coach who has chemistry with your child, who is accessible, responsible, and who knows how to make the work enjoyable.

Q. HOW DO YOU WORK WITH BAR & BAT MITZVAHS?
A. Often, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony is the first time a young person is faced with the challenge of speaking to an audience. In addition to the years of study and months of practice for the Torah reading and personal speech, the act of public speaking can add pressure and anxiety. I will work one-on-one to establish confidence and clarity. In addition to the tools outlined above, I can also help with writing, working to hone the structure, language, and syntax of the written speech. If possible, practice in the temple in the days leading up to the ceremony is a great way to build confidence.