Course Description
Intensive training in voice techniques for the actor.
Athena Title
Actor Train II Voice for Actor
Prerequisite
THEA 3500
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
To allow students freedom to creatively explore their vocal creation, placement, range, and strength. To further develop the student's knowledge of the role which relaxation, breath, articulation, and vocal production play in the development of character, intensity, mood, and style of a performance piece. Through exercises done in and out of class, students shall experience the discipline required to keep the voice strong and pliable as required for performance. Students shall be able to identify and correct specific breath and vocal habits which may be impeding their own growth as a performer and acknowledge the steps which must be taken to improve them. Through the use of scene work and monologues, the students shall become aware of the importance that relaxation, breath, resonance, and articulation have in bringing deeper strength and personal meaning to their performance. Finally, the students will be introduced to basic phonetics and the role it plays in researching and learning a stage dialect and will become proficient in the use of three standard stage dialects.
Topical Outline
The class time will be divided into two parts. The first half will involve relaxation, breath, and vocal exercises. These exercises will be built upon with each subsequent class session so that upon leaving the course the student has established a full vocal warmup to be used outside of class. The second part will involve monologue and scene work concentrating on specific vocal goals that have been agreed upon through a private meeting between teacher and student. The student shall prepare and perform two monologues and three scenes (final scene requires a dialect). There will also be outside reading from the following texts: Rodenburg, Patsy. The Right to Speak, Routledge, 1992. Rodenburg, Patsy, The Need for Words, Routledge, 1993. Blumenfeld, Robert. Accents: A manual for actors, Limelight, 2000 A. An overview of the vocal process and the mechanics of voice production. 1.The job of the diaphragm, vocal chords, larynx, lungs, etc. B. Freeing the body for breath and vocal expression. 1. The Vocal Workout a. Relaxation Exercises b. Posture Exercises c. Breath Exercises d. Vocal Resonance Exercises e. Vocal Range Exercises f. Volume Exercises g. Vocal Placement Exercises h. Articulation and Enunciation Exercises C. Creating Sounds for Communication 1. Vowels, creation and placement 2. Consonants, creation and placement 3. Phonetics a. Sounds b. Symbols D. Elements of Stage Dialects. 1. Review of Phonetics 2. Researching a Dialect 3. Substituting the appropriate phonetic sounds 4. Marking the scripts 5. Introduction and Practical use of standard stage dialects. a. Standard American b. Southern American c. British and Cockney Dialects d. Irish Dialects E. Monologue (2) and Scene (2) Work 1. Analysis of Text from a Vocal Perspective 2. Physical Approach to Text 3. Voice/Body/Text Connection a. Text Analysis through Sound 4. Presentation and Critique of Monologue 5. Final Scene requires a dialect F. Methodology 1. Performance of two monologues and two scenes with partner 2. Private Meetings with Professor to discuss specific vocal habits and issues. 3. Participation in Developmental Exercises 4. In class and written critiques. 5. Research and Preparation for presentations.
Syllabus
Public CV