Unit 23 - Developing voice for the actor

Monday 25^th September

Devising a voice production warmup

To create an effective voice production warmup, I need to include a physical warmup with a focus on ensuring that the shoulders and head are well positioned for breathing exercises. I will then lead the group in some intercostal diaphragmatic breathing exercises followed by a series of diction and articulation exercises. Finally we will have a cool down to relax everybody.

The warmup will follow as:

1. Body percussion – to warm up muscles all over the body especially the face (resonators and articulators).

2. Rolling the shoulders – need to be aligned for working.

3. Head rolls to the side and back – to make sure that the head is well positioned and balanced. Check the distance between the ears and shoulders, create as much space as possible.

4. Intercostal diaphragmatic breathing exercise – strengthens diaphragm and encourages ribs to swing.

5. Abdominal press – used for long notes, challenging phrasing and long lines of speech.

6. Humming and EE OO – to get the lips moving and warmed up.

7. Diction exercises: “pah, tah, kah”, “mah, nah, lah”, “thah, vah, zah” – key travelling exercises to improve overall articulation.

8. Consolidation exercises – challenging pieces which help to use the articulators effectively.

9. Tongue twisters – warms up the articulators.

10.            Advanced tongue twisters – given to us by Ryan Kelly who used to work at the college and these exercises extend the work on the articulators.

Cool down - intercostal diaphragmatic breathing exercise whilst lying down on the floor – weight is evenly distributed throughout the skeleton and this turns it into a much more relaxing exercise than when you perform it standing up.