1. The Actor’s Tool The Voice

2. Warm-up Breathing exercises – deep breathing Breathing exercises – deep breathing Facial stretches Facial stretches Articulation exercises – use the lips, teeth, tongue, jaw, soft palate Articulation exercises – use the lips, teeth, tongue, jaw, soft palate These need to be done everyday so the actor can prepare to ACT on the stage. These need to be done everyday so the actor can prepare to ACT on the stage.

3. How the Voice Works Speech is a secondary function Speech is a secondary function The primary function of the larynx is to stop foreign objects from going into the lungs. The primary function of the larynx is to stop foreign objects from going into the lungs. The larynx (vocal cords) vibrate as air passes through them and the articulators form sounds which create words. The larynx (vocal cords) vibrate as air passes through them and the articulators form sounds which create words.

4. More about the voice…. The vocal cords are completely closed when you are eating. The vocal cords are completely closed when you are eating. The vocal cords are open when you are breathing. The vocal cords are open when you are breathing. The vocal cords are closed however they allow some air to push through and vibrate when you are speaking The vocal cords are closed however they allow some air to push through and vibrate when you are speaking

5. Quality of the Voice Determined by your resonators – these are the parts of the body that create vowel sounds such as your nasal, oral and sinus cavities, chest, and throat. Determined by your resonators – these are the parts of the body that create vowel sounds such as your nasal, oral and sinus cavities, chest, and throat. Resonance – a quality that causes vibrations that give the sound a tone. Resonance – a quality that causes vibrations that give the sound a tone. Exercise: Hum for 10 seconds. Now plug your ears and hum again for 10 seconds. Discuss what you heard. Exercise: Hum for 10 seconds. Now plug your ears and hum again for 10 seconds. Discuss what you heard.

6. Qualities Nasality – the sound moves around the sinus cavity. Nasality – the sound moves around the sinus cavity. Sounds like a person has a cold, is whining or is from a geographic area that this vocal quality is predominant. Sounds like a person has a cold, is whining or is from a geographic area that this vocal quality is predominant. Such as New York or France. Such as New York or France. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Sdry6 sYvg&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Sdry6 sYvg&feature=related

7. Qualities Breathiness – sounds like there is too much air resonating. Breathiness – sounds like there is too much air resonating. Can sound like you are ill, trying to catch your breath, mysterious or nervous sound, or a sexy whisper. Can sound like you are ill, trying to catch your breath, mysterious or nervous sound, or a sexy whisper. Breathiness is also used to create a Southern dialect for the American English language. Breathiness is also used to create a Southern dialect for the American English language.

8. Examples of breathiness Southern – Crimes of the Heart Southern – Crimes of the Heart Southern Sexy – Happy Birthday Sexy – Happy Birthday Sexy

9. Pitch The human voice has a musical range The human voice has a musical range An octave is 8 notes. An octave is 8 notes. We normally use up to 24 notes to speak. We normally use up to 24 notes to speak. Trained actors and singers use more notes so they can create all kinds of characters and emotions on stage. Trained actors and singers use more notes so they can create all kinds of characters and emotions on stage. They practice using their vocal range each day so they are prepared to ACT on the stage. They practice using their vocal range each day so they are prepared to ACT on the stage.

10. Pitch Optimum Pitch is the pitch that you are most comfortable speaking at during a normal day. Optimum Pitch is the pitch that you are most comfortable speaking at during a normal day. Teenage girls tend to use a pitch that is too high which causes strained voices. Teenage girls tend to use a pitch that is too high which causes strained voices.

11. Pitch Patterns Preacher’s Waltz – the pitch drops to a lower note at the end of each sentence. It is in ¾ time like a waltz. Preacher’s Waltz – the pitch drops to a lower note at the end of each sentence. It is in ¾ time like a waltz. Example – Jesse Jackson Jesse JacksonJesse Jackson Eternal Surprise – the pitch rises to a higher note at the end of each sentence. It sounds like a ? Mark, an Irish lilt, or a valleygirl. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFR9TNsByLk&safety_mode=t rue&persist_safety_mode=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFR9TNsByLk&safety_mode=t rue&persist_safety_mode=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFR9TNsByLk&safety_mode=t rue&persist_safety_mode=1

12. Pitch pattern Monotone – The pitch stays on the same note all the time. There is no variety. Monotone – The pitch stays on the same note all the time. There is no variety. Puncher – The pitch goes high, low, high, low, high, low and it makes it difficult to understand which words are important...therefore you cannot find meaning easily. Puncher – The pitch goes high, low, high, low, high, low and it makes it difficult to understand which words are important...therefore you cannot find meaning easily. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHEh1ML5OTU&feature=related&safety_ mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1