Where to Get Voice-Over & Vocal Lessons in San Francisco

You can make money doing voiceovers, but first, what is it anyway? And is doing voice-overs an actual job, a reliable way to make a living? 

Voice-over is a technique that uses a narrator’s voice to deliver storytelling over the visual story in films, documentaries, and for audiobooks. Voice-over narration allows storytelling in a dynamic, engaging way that acts as a tool to further draw an audience into a story. Typically, voice-over work requires a combination of skills, including a good clear voice, acting skills, adaptability, and specialized equipment for high quality recordings. 

Audiobook narrators do more than simply read a book aloud; they are skilled voice actors, performers who interpret the text through authentic emotion. 

The result is listeners enjoy their books more due to the enhanced storytelling experience delivered by professionals, specifically those with trained voices. 

In fact, many singers are increasingly interested in doing audiobook narration. Having the benefit of a trained vocal tool is a skill that draws singers to narration, and showcases their talents as well.

Located in the historic Jackson Square area, VoiceOne has been training voice actors for over 30 years, and welcomes students from complete beginners to working professionals. Whether you are new and simply curious about the industry, or a seasoned professional who wants to increase your existing skills and expand into commercial, animation, narration, and other voice-over work, Voice One is the right place to be. 

In addition to dynamic instruction in all areas of voice-over, VoiceOne will also strengthen your voice and train you in essential recording equipment and software, plus help guide your career path to meet industry professionals. With a complete curriculum of rigorous, yet fun classes, VoiceOne training is unique in the industry. 

You can start with an Intro To Voice Over 3-hour workshop ($55) that provides an overview on the voice industry to see if this path is a fit for you. Regular classes are in person and online; private lessons are also available. VoiceOne membership options are monthly, $59, or yearly, $590 (two months free!). Private lessons priced separately.

VoiceOne
414 Jackson Street, Suite 202
San Francisco 94111
VoiceOne.com

Songbird Studios is a premier vocal coaching studio, with three San Francisco locations in the Nob Hill, Noe Valley, and Sunset neighborhoods. The studio’s fourth location will open on September 1, 2026 in Novato, in Marin county.

Founded in 2009 by singer-songwriter and vocal coach Whitney Nichole and her husband Niall David, Songbird Studios welcomes aspiring and professional singers of all abilities. The highly trained vocal team works with hundreds of singers and speakers each month, from total beginners to working performers and voice actors. Songbird Studios is all about the voice, and then you can take it anywhere, which for a growing number of trained singers is toward audiobook narration and other voice-over work.

Singing lessons are offered in-person and online, with each learning journey geared to student goals as Beginners & Hobbyists, or Professionals & Aspiring Professionals.    Songbird is run on a membership model that ensures students maintain a consistent cadence along with constant progress with vocal practice. Memberships start at $155 per month. Because for newbies a first vocal lesson can be stressful, the studio lets you try your first lesson for free—ask about it. Whitney reminds us, “Songbird believes the world is better when everyone sings!”

Songbird Studios
1463 Pine Street
San Francisco, 94109
Songbird Studios

Personalized Remote One-On-One Video Conference Class, through December 17, 2026

This unique 90-minute introductory class is designed to give a realistic picture of what it takes to get started and succeed in today’s voice-over market. Through this one-on-one personalized session, you will meet with a professional voice actor from Voices For All via a video chat that is scheduled in advance. The class covers fundamental tools and techniques, how to create an at-home set up, and more, plus you’ll get feedback. 

Overall, the class is designed to instill knowledge and confidence to help you decide if voice acting is right for you. At the end, your instructor will give you a followup call with a voice-over evaluation to help plan your next steps. Fee, $49.

Learn more here

City Extension, Introduction to Voiceovers

The Community Music Center (CMC) is a special place dedicated to making music accessible to all. Founded in 1921, it is a nonprofit music school and performance venue. CMC also offers various voice lessons, both private and group classes, to study with talented teachers, many of whom are both voice and musical instrument instructors. 

There are two CMC locations: the Mission District branch, newly expanded, is housed in two beautiful Victorian buildings and showcases the center’s concert hall, along with its other lovely features. The second location is the Richmond District branch, housed in the Richmond Neighborhood Center.

While CMC is largely music focused, voice lessons and teachers are plentiful with lesson options available. The CMC website is robust and may take a bit of sleuthing to find just what you want for voice lessons, so begin here. The center hosts various vocal ensembles, giving singers the opportunity to collaborate and perform together. Though CMC is a fee-based learning center, it offers several tuition free classes for both youth and older adults, plus sliding scale tuition assistance. See the website for full details.

Community Music Center
544 Capp Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
sfcmc.org

GetVoiceOverLessons.com offers an extraordinary opportunity to develop, refine, and enhance vocal skills to work in audiobook narration, animation and video games, and commercial work in the voice-over industry. Gain essential techniques and build confidence while learning from experienced voice teachers in the San Francisco area by contacting them directly. Submit your zip code to reveal local professionals to contact and request voice-over lessons.

GetVoiceOverLessons.com

While some authors may dream of narrating their own books, the majority choose to hire professional narrators. Top notch audiobook narration requires performance skill, voice quality, and physical stamina best left to a professional reader. In order to assure your book gets the best voice-over performance it deserves, hire a pro!

Audiobook narration: Use your voice to bring author stories to life by narrating books for platforms like Audible. There are several online platforms where narrators find authors looking for narrators for their books, and for narrated books to find distribution. These platforms make it easy for voice actors to apply to find work. How to do it? 

ACX: Founded in 2011 by Audible, it is a giant in the audiobook industry, and has been around since 1995. In 2008 Amazon bought Audible, and three years later founded ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) for authors to publish audio versions of their books.

Author’s Republic: Author’s Republic lets you create and sell audiobooks using its production tools and marketing support. There’s a lot to learn and hopefully earn with its wide distribution network.

Findaway Voices: This platform helps build your audiobook business. It is geared to independent authors ready to distribute and monetize their completed audiobooks.

Krity: Krity identifies itself as a “community of diverse voices” ready to help narrators turn their love of books into profitable audiobooks. Narrators lend their voices to books they choose from the Krity collection to build a community of listeners for recognition and compensation. Visit the website for full details.

Invest in decent equipment to ensure quality recordings from the start. A good microphone and recording software are essential basics.

Look to sites like ACX for guidance on the preferred equipment to have.