As an actor, learning any new accent seems daunting—but throw in regional dialects, tonality, and the performance itself, and it starts to feel impossible. Luckily, we’re here to help. “I basically say, learn the notes so that you can play the music,” says dialect and acting coach Denise Woods. “And acting is playing the music. But you got to know the notes. It frees you.”

On this episode of “In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast,” we sat down with Woods, as well as dialect and accent coaches Rebecca Gausnell, Bob Corff, and Paul Meier, for a lesson on learning any accent—from the physicality of your mouth to training your ear to hear the rhythms of your character’s hometown.
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Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ

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Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins
- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis