1. Student Experience Team
Voice Workshop
Paddy Turner
Education Developer
Student Experience Team

2. Aims of this workshop
To learn the principles of breath control and voice production
To learn some basic exercises to improve vocal production
To learn some presentation skills to pass on to students

3. Health warnings
I am not a trained voice coach
I am a trained actor having spent 3 yrs at the Central School of Speech & Drama
Nothing we do today is dangerous
All stretches and bends should be undertaken gently and smoothly
If you start to feel dizzy – sit down for a moment
It is normal to yawn!

4. Quick exercise! Find a partner and face each other
When I say 'go' - count to 20 in one breath, loudly, as fast as you can
Observe your partner as you both count together
Feedback your observations to each other

5. The components of making speech sounds:
Body – physical posture, movement, muscular power and resonators
Breath – powers the voice; ribcage, diaphragm and supporting muscles
Larynx – air passes through the larynx on the way out of the body. Contains the vocal chords
Mouth – lips, tongue, jaw, hard and soft palate. Articulates and shapes sounds

6. Actors voice training
Release tensions – throat restrictions; shoulder/neck tension; spinal placement
Learn how to breathe fully – extending/opening the ribcage, filling the lungs, using the diaphragm
Learn breath control – finding and using the muscles in the back, ribs and stomach
Supporting and placing sounds – practicing using the muscles when making sound and finding the key resonators (chest, neck, face, nose, head)
Practising articulation – working and training the lips, tongue, jaw, soft palate

7. Releasing tension – relaxation
Keep feet slightly apart under hips and avoid locking the knees
Head and neck – gentle rolls and stretches
Shoulders – lift & drop; circles
Rib stretches
Bend and straighten – head on top of spine

8. Breathing exercises Hand on ribcage and lower stomach
Breathe out fully and let the air come in
Feel with your hands what happens
Do this a few times
Now do it but this time, fill the lungs
In to 5, out to 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
You can swing your arms wide as you breathe in to help extend the rib cage

9. Voice exercises In to 5, out with ‘zzz’, then 'mmm'
mmm-or; mmm-ah; -ay; -ee; -oo
concentrate on feeling the voice resonate on the face and lips before releasing to the vowel
play with the sound by using the full range of your voice - explore the 5 resonators

10. Articulation warm up the face - massage all over it
face small closed - face wide open
chewing sticky toffee
vibrate lips
tongue pushed against bottom teeth - hold
relaxed tongue between teeth
tongue exercises

11. Articulation exercises
Voiced
Un-voiced
Plosives
b; d; g
p; t; k
Fricatives
v; th; z
f; th; s; sh; h
Affricates dj ch
Nasals
m; n; ng
Frictionless
(Liquids, semivowels)
r; l; y; w

12. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper, a peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper, where’s the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked?

13. The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep’s sick
The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep’s sick. She sells sea shells on the sea shore. The sea shells that she sells are sea shells I’m sure

14. Round and round the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran
A bloke’s back brake block broke

15. Peggy Babcock, Peggy Babcock, Peggy Babcock, ……
She stood on the balcony, inexplicably mimicking him hiccuping, and amicably welcoming him in.

16. Presentation skills
communication of information, knowledge and ideas through live interaction
Essay writing written word uses legibility; grammar; clarity; structure; register
Presentation voice (nb sign language) - uses articulation; volume; tone; body language; expression; register

17. Presentation skills also……confidence: taking/owning the space
engaging the audience
filling the sentence to the end
understanding of habits - vocal and physical observation
record yourself and learn to observe objectively

18. Coping with adrenalin
induces nerves, tension, shortness of breath, shaky voice, dry mouth, trembling hands and knees
heightens awareness, speed of thought, energy-levels, vocal power
how to get the right balance

19. Coping with adrenalin avoid caffeine which heightens negative effects
sip water
use physical energy excesses - e.g. go for a brisk walk, quick run on the spot, shake out arms/hands, shoulder/neck loosening
breathing exercises
vocal warm up

20. Useful resources
Berry, C. (1973) 'Voice and the Actor' Wiley Publishing Inc., New York
Rodenburg, P. (1997) 'The Actor Speaks' Methuen Drama, London