Every person speaks with an accent—and so do your characters. When an actor’s natural accent doesn’t align with the social group or region your character belongs to, it’s as noticeable as a costume or set piece that feels out of place.

And when actors aren’t given enough time to prepare, they often face a difficult choice: “Do I stay in the accent or stay in the scene?” The result? Performances where the accent distracts from the story, or the story suffers for the sake of keeping the accent steady.

Accent design and preparation are part of world-building. Done well, they help the audience stay immersed and emotionally connected. Done poorly—or ignored—they become an avoidable liability.

That depends on your goals, the complexity of the accent, and your starting point. Some actors see solid progress in just a few sessions, most require around 10 hours of work in class plus daily work outside of our sessions. Many actors opt to train regularly over time to build a broad accent toolkit. I tailor the schedule to your needs—and I’ll always give you honest feedback about what’s realistic for your timeline.

Here are two of the most common outcomes of too little accent prep:

1. A flat or held-back performance, where you are too focused on “getting the accent right” to fully embody the role.

2. An accent that fades in and out, distracting the audience (and you!) —both of which undermine your performance credibility.

Nope. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an accent you've worked on before, I’ll meet you where you are. The Vanderway Method is designed to guide you step-by-step—from recognizing the sound patterns to integrating them naturally into performance.

Yes! I offer emergency sessions for accent auditions or quick tune-ups. That said, actors who have laid universal accent groundwork with me before the audition comes up, get the strongest results—and feel more confident under pressure. Long-term preparation always wins.

Each session is fully customized. Depending on your needs, we might focus on:

• Accent Selection

• Vocal tract anatomy, awareness and coordination

• Sound recognition and placement

• Articulator flexibility

• Script or scene work

• Self-tape prep

• Flow, rhythm, and ease in the accent (aka accent integration)

• You’ll also receive recordings, notes, and homework so you can keep improving effectively between sessions.

Usually, yes—especially for beginners or when preparing for a specific role. But if you’re building out your range, we can structure sessions to explore multiple accents over time in a way that keeps them distinct and embodied.

Accent skill isn't about natural talent—it's about awareness, flexibility, and practice. My method works for a wide range of learning styles, and I’ve coached everyone from first-timers to Oscar Winners. If you’re committed, I can help you get there.

Yes—all my private coaching sessions are available via Zoom, and can be recorded. This means you can train from anywhere in the world, and review what we’ve covered at your own pace.

I offer a sliding scale for actors to help make coaching more accessible. I also hold group classes from time to time. If you’re interested in working together but budget is a concern, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to discuss options.