Unit 1 - Skills development in performing arts

Wednesday 1^st March

Today we carried out an in depth warmup ready to think about leading our own warmup.

We started the warmup with some gentle stretches. Firstly we bent over, keeping our legs straight, to create a table top position. We also put our arms out in front of us. After this stretch we did a side stretch when we bent over to the right lifting our left arm and bending over to the side. We then repeated this to the other side.

After the stretches we shook out the parts of the body from head to foot. We also patted the muscles from the feet working up to the stomach and then up to the head. This makes sure that all the blood is flowing to the muscles faster. After this we then had a discussion as to why this is important. It is very important to warm up areas such as the head, ribs and neck because we will be using these parts of the body a lot during voice production.

Next we moved onto the intercostal diaphragmatic breathing exercise. For this exercise we breathed in for 4 counts, held for 6 and then breathed out for 12. If I was to carry out this breathing exercise with another group outside the performing arts lectures I would probably get the group to breathe out for 8 counts instead of 12 because it is easier. We also carried out a different variation of this exercise. We breathed in for 4, held for 6 and breathed out for a random amount of counts. This required more concentration as we had to think more carefully about exhalation. We then carried out the extension to this exercise which is the abdominal press. Carrying out this exercise enables us to feel the ribs swing out and feel the lungs filling up with air.

For the last part of the session we carried out some diction and travelling exercises. As a group, we are now quite confident with ‘pah, tah, kah’, however we do need further practice with ‘mah, nah, lah’ and thah, vah, zah’. Once we have got these exercises up to speed we will then be able to apply these to our performance material. Other exercises which we carried out where ‘ma, may, mee, mor, moo’ and several tongue twisters. All of these diction exercises could do with some work. My target for next week is to go over these diction exercises so that I know them without having to look at the sheet.