Vocal Acting Pitch and Inflection

Your voice is one of the strongest instruments you have for creating a character. In addition to voice and diction, there are other vocal behaviors that affect characterization. Developing Voice

Pitch Pitch: how high or low the sound. Pitch-up: high voice. These characters lack confidence and tend to be fearful, intimidated, or confused. Pitch-down: low voice. Pitch-down characters are self-assured, dominating, authoritative, and overbearing. Pitch

When you speak, your voice needs to change pitch pattern. Rise and Fall of the pitch creates interest, and emphasizes the subtext of your character. No rise and fall of pitch=monotone. This is the quickest way to lose your audience. Your character is not believable. Pitch patterns

Circumflex inflection There are 4 Pitch Pattern Inflections: Rising inflection Falling inflection Sustained inflection Circumflex inflection Inflection

Rising inflection is used to indicate surprise, questions, or shock.

Falling inflection usually indicates the end of a statement Falling inflection usually indicates the end of a statement. It also is used to express depression, finality, or firmness. Falling Inflection

This means that your voice stays on the same note, or pitch, suggesting calmness, decisiveness, or steadiness of purpose. Sustained inflection

Circumflex inflection This is the intonation of two or more vowel sounds for what ordinarily is a single vowel sound. This inflection allows an actor to suggest a change in meaning of a word or to stress a particular meaning. This twisting of sound can alter the literal meaning of a word and even reverse the meaning entirely. Circumflex inflection

Say the Following lines, using the inflection in the parentheses. It was you! (rising inflection) What’s the use? (falling inflection) I have made up my mind. This is how we’re going to do it. (sustained inflection) Surely you’re not going to go out in this weather. (rising inflection) I’m sorry, but I just can’t allow you to copy my notes. (falling inflection). Exercises

Scoring Your Script for Vocal Inflection Mark your script to include the 4 levels of vocal inflection. Rising inflection: Falling inflection: Sustained inflection: Circumflex inflection: vowel Scoring Your Script for Vocal Inflection

Script Scoring There is no wrong or right to scoring of the script. Look at the examples on pg. 111 of The Stage and School. Some scripts are RENTED from publishers and must be returned with ALL scoring marks removed. MAKE SURE YOU SCORE YOUR SCRIPTS IN PENCIL. Script Scoring