General American accent

  • €54.99

General American: Professional Accent Training for Actors

  • Closed
  • 68 Lessons

After 22 years coaching actors at every level—beginners, pros, and even Oscar nominees—I’ve poured everything into creating a program that works for everyone. It’s your Standard American toolkit for sounding effortlessly natural. As with everything I do, it is designed to be fun, effective, and budget-friendly. Packed with nearly 70 dynamic classes, this program dives deep into everything you need to nail the General American accent: from mastering key sounds and placement to fun physical exercises, rhythm, intonation, and listening practice.

I know your schedule can be hectic, so there’s no rush. Start at the beginning or skip around—learn your way, on your schedule. And with lifetime access, and program updates as I come across new information and resources that would help you further, you can revisit and refine anytime.

Tailored for everyone, this course includes specialized sections for non-native English speakers and unique lessons for those who might accidentally end up in New York or Texas when heading for General American.

This is an extensive program, that will give you all the tools, exercises, skills, and references you'll ever need to master the General American accent.

Here's a little sneak peak!

We can be professional and still have fun.

Welcome!

A message from Holly

In the past 22 years that I've been coaching, I've learned a whole lot about what works and why. General American is one of the accents I get asked about most, and having coached it to thousands of individuals, in programs around the world, and in productions for HBO, Netflix, and many more, I decided it was time to create a detailed program specifically on this accent.

I'm extremely proud of what I've built, and I feel confident you'll love it. I've got half of it uploaded currently, and will be adding the rest in the next few days!

If English is not your first language, not to worry. This program is for you as long as you're fluent enough to be acting in English.

Thank you again for joining me in this new adventure.

I'm cheering for you,

Holly x

Contents

Welcome to the program!

Your official welcome and introduction to this course, what you'll need, and a message from Holly.

VIDEO: Welcome to the program!
Preview
Essential: Mark complete.

What makes accents so hard?

Having worked with thousands of actors, I have a few theories.

VIDEO: Do you find learning new accents a little tough or frustrating? You're not alone

The History of General American

It's always helpful to know where an accent comes from.

VIDEO: Where does General American come from?
General American: Historical recordings

Triggers and Descriptions

How do you hear General American?

VIDEO: Triggers and descriptors

The science of speech.

Neuroscience, linguistics, anatomy, psychology... here's a summary of why I work the way I work.

VIDEO: Neuroscience and learning an accent.
How does speech work?

Observing speech

Watch and learn

VIDEO: Observing speech
The Observation list

Body language and posture: find your American vibe

Get the American vibe

VIDEO: Body language and posture
Your American Voice

General American Mouth Placement: All the muscle stuff!

This section contains all of the exercises you'll need to get your mouth set up for General American.

VIDEO: What is General American placement?
VIDEO: Tension vs Activation
VIDEO: Your Jaw
VIDEO: Your Tongue
VIDEO: Your lips
VIDEO: The shortcut
PDF of the exercises

Vocal Fry and Nasality

A look at two things that can happen when you're working on this accent.

VIDEO: Vocal fry
VIDEO: Nasality

Phonetics

The Phonetic symbols for General American sounds

General American Consonants

VIDEO: Introduction to the Consonants
VIDEO: Voiced and Voiceless (NN and everyone)
VIDEO: P, B, M
VIDEO: B, V, and W: (NN)
VIDEO: L, R, and W. (NN)
VIDEO: S or Z? (NN)
VIDEO: SH, CH, and J (NN)
VIDEO: T and D
VIDEO: TH's
VIDEO: NG
VIDEO: R
R listening Exercise. Which is American?
VIDEO: The H sound
The Dark L
VIDEO: T,D,N,L into TH

Semi-vowels (NN)

VIDEO: The semi-vowels W and Y (NN)

Vowels: Monophthongs

VIDEO: Intro to the vowels
VIDEO: The Schwa / Hesitance sound
Answers: where are the schwas?
VIDEO: [æ] cat
VIDEO: [ɑ] (lot, sorry)
VIDEO: [ɔ] (or, *all)
VIDEO: /ɛ/ (bed), /I/ (kiss) /i/ (me) (NN especially)
VIDEO: /ʌ/ but, love
VIDEO: /ʊ/ book, good

Vowels: Diphthongs

VIDEO: /oʊ/ oh and /uː/ true
VIDEO: /ɔi/ (boy, oil)
VIDEO: /ai/ (my, time)
VIDEO: /au/ (now, around)
VIDEO: /ei/ say, great

Word Connection

VIDEO: Linking words together
VIDEO: Coulda woulda word smash

Word stress and rhythm

VIDEO: Word stress and rhythm
ANSWERS to word stress listening

Intonation

VIDEO: Intonation
Intonation marking and ear training
Question intonation

Pronunciation and Vocabulary differences: RP vs General American

Vocabulary changes
Pronunciation differences
A few other random things worth mentioning

Common mistakes

VIDEO: Don't let these mistakes give you away
VIDEO: Accidental New Yorker
VIDEO: Accidental southerner

Clips to learn from

CLIPS to learn from.

Your Triggers

Designing your General American triggers

That's all folks!

VIDEO: That's a wrap!