The voice is the foundation of an actor’s art. The Actor The lines the actor speaks must be heard clearly. Every word must be heard by all for an effective performance. The voice is the foundation of an actor’s art.

A voice that is used effectively conveys a wide range of emotions and reflects a person’s personality, moods and attitudes.

A well trained actor with an effective voice knows the importance of the following Ten elements: Relaxation Articulation Breathing Pronunciation Quality Volume Pitch Rate Flexibility Projection

Relaxation Relaxation Relaxation means freedom from all bodily tension. The body and mind still need to be keenly alert and ready, yet calm and free from distractions. Relaxation techniques will also improve your posture which is how you sit and stand which is essential in controlled breathing.

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Take a good cleansing breath. Reach both hands to the sky! Reach right, left and repeat. Reach again and lift from the rib cage and up on your toes! REACH! (Keep breathing) Relax your fingers…wrists…elbows…shoulders…flat feet And shake it out! Shake it up high…Shake it down low! Reach up high! And carefully bend at the waist and reach across the room…reach…(keep breathing) Drop carefully over like a rag doll. The top of your head should be parallel to the floor as if syrup were pouring onto the floor! Breathe through the stretch. Imagine a string running through your spine and pull up one vertebrae at a time from the small of your back and your head the last to come up. Count from 16, 15, 14, 13……………….1. Look up, to the left, down and continue to rotate the head carefully and then the opposite direction. Raise shoulders up to your ears and rotate forward down and to the back and up. Repeat. Raise shoulder s again and then rotate backward and around. Breathe. You should feel weightless…light as a feather…free from tension!

Breath Control is how much force you use in inhaling and exhaling Breath Control is how much force you use in inhaling and exhaling. Breath is controlled by your diaphragm. Let’s find this muscle that controls your air and supports your sound!

Place your hands on the side bottom edge of your rib cage and walk your hands up until they meet at the sternum. Walk your fingers down 1”-2” until you find a soft muscle. Place your hand on this muscle. Laugh! Laugh! Laugh! Slowly inhale and hold your breath for 10 counts and exhale on the sound of “Ha, ha, ha, ha…”

Diaphragmatic Exercises Reverse Crunches Sit on the floor in a sit up position. Cross hands on chest. Lean back and lower yourself one pulse at a time-5,4,3,2,1 until you are 6” from the floor. Lift yourself slowly tighten the diaphragm and lift yourself up to the sitting position. Begin with 3-5 reps. Diaphragm Push Ups Find a book(or your hand will work on the fly) that fits comfortably on your diaphragm muscle. Lay down on the floor and place the book on your diaphragm. Lift the book up and down using your diaphragm. Begin with 10 reps.

Pitch is the musical tone of the voice Pitch is the musical tone of the voice. Your pitch is determined by the vibration of your vocal folds in the larynx. The faster the folds vibrate the higher the pitch. The slower the vibration the lower the pitch. Your natural pitch is the pitch with which you speak with the richest tone. Inflection is the rising and falling of pitch. Inflection adds meaning, color, and rhythm to words.

Flexibility is the process of varying the inflections of the voice Flexibility is the process of varying the inflections of the voice. Articulation is the shaping and molding of sounds into syllables. Your articulators include your hard and soft palates, tongue, teeth and lips, jaw and nasal passageways. Pronunciation is a way of speaking a word, that is accepted or generally understood.

Volume is how loudly and softly a person speaks Volume is how loudly and softly a person speaks. Breath control is the foundation for volume. The more air released when you speak the softer the volume; the less air released the louder the volume.

Rate is the speed at which you speak.

Projection is the placement and delivery of all the vocal elements used effectively in communicating with an audience. Projection involves aiming your voice at a directed target. As an actor it is your responsibility to use all techniques available to you . Not only do you need to remember all the aspects of acting and speaking onstage; you must be aware of the audience’s need to hear you.

Unique New York! Unique New York! You know you need Unique New York! Apply Your Knowledge…vary the exercises exploring breath control, quality, pitch, flexibility, articulation, pronunciation, volume, rate and projection! Unique New York! Unique New York! You know you need Unique New York! You know, you know New York’s Unique!

The Big Black Bug, bit a big black bear, and the big black bear bled blood!

Proper use of the voice for the stage takes desire, study, and hours of work. The result, however, is that your audience will hear, understand and enjoy your performance.