As part of Central’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, we’re speaking to students and alumni who have received Scholarships and Bursaries whilst studying at Central, to showcase the impact that these can have on them, and their future careers.
Keith Higinbotham studied on Central’s MFA Voice Studies: Teaching and Coaching course and graduates in 2022. He is now voice and dialect coach, and performer.
What made you choose to study at Central, and what impact did your training have on you?
I chose to study at Central because of it’s reputation as the number one establishment for voice coaches to train. The vast majority of the coaches I researched before applying went to Central, and alongside having questions about my own neurodiversity, it felt like the perfect place to support me both professionally and mentally. The training has literally changed my life. Beyond gaining knowledge and developing vital skills to succeed in this industry, Central has given me an unimaginable amount of confidence and drive in my craft and myself, spurring me on to help others and continue to grow as a coach. The support shown in the diagnosis of my ADHD has been invaluable to my growth, and the impact it has therefore had on my skills as a coach, and on my students who identify with my experiences, has been greater than I could have possibly imagined.
What have you been working on at the moment?
Since completing the first year of my MFA in 2021, I have been working at some of London’s most influential drama schools as a voice and dialect tutor. These have included Mountview, Rose Bruford College and Central. As a tutor, I’ve been teaching undergraduate students a wide-range of performance skills, from performing verbatim theatre, to learning impressions, to performing Shakespeare, to learning how to break down and learn accents, to basic fundamental voice skills training.
I have also provided show support on 3rd year and postgraduate public performances at Mountview, on productions including, The Wolves, Enron, The Man of Mode, Oppenheimer and Boy, as well as on Central’s production of Electra. My role as a Dialect Coach was to provide the actors with support on accents, speaking text, and using the voice efficiently in the performance space. I adore the challenge of show support; a coach has to be present and ready for any question or issue that arrises.
In addition to this, I’m also an associate coach of Ashley Howard (Head of Voice at Oxford School of Drama and owner/lead coach of Ashley Howard Associates) and run my own business coaching voice users from all over the world in dialects, speech, and voice. I also specialise in the creation and development of character voices for performance capture and voice over at Creative Assembly and Pitstop Productions with Performance Captured Academy. On top of this, I am still a performer focussing on voice acting and performance capture having voiced for TRPG “Shores Unknown”, various audiobooks, and commercials!
Without the guidance and training I received at RCSSD, I wouldn’t have the knowledge nor the confidence to succeed in such an area of work.
What does a typical working day look like for you?
It depends on what is on the schedule! Every day is different for me. A typical day may look like this: I usually reserve the morning for admin and working with clients 1-to-1. Travel into London and work in person on whatever project I may be working on, or class I may be teaching. Preparation for future clients, classes and projects. This includes everything from learning and breaking down a brand new accent to problem solving vocal issues.
You benefited from a Scholarship whilst you were at Central, what impact did this have on you and your studies?
The Scholarship meant I could completely focus on my studies and my growth as a coach. Due to the lockdown, I was unable to work a part-time job to support myself financially, and I was very concerned about my financial situation. In receiving a Scholarship, I was able to completely immerse myself in my work without being concerned about how I was going to pay for the course; in turn, this eased my financial anxieties massively, and has had a huge positive impact on my work and my studies.
What would you say to those thinking of donating funds for Scholarships or Bursaries for Central’s students?
The financial help I have received this academic year has been invaluable to my learning process. By lifting the financial burden, I have been able to focus on my studies, and I would encourage anyone to donate funds to Central students, as receiving this bursary has truly changed my life.
And finally, what advice would you have for those hoping to follow in your footsteps in the industry?
I would say that networking is your friend. Get to know people. Be kind and be curious. Above all, learn and absorb as much information as you can from your students, clients, fellow practitioners and mentors because it is all vital in becoming a better coach.
Central’s Big Give Christmas Challenge will raise vital funds for Scholarships and Bursaries to support our students.
