Wrap Up: For the conclusion of the lesson students will simply reflect on the lesson and share what they have learned about how to complete a proper warm up.
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After the lesson: Students will be required to present a warm up for the class with a partner for a fromal grade.
Post Work: For the remainder of the school year students will complete a formal warm up for every class period before an in class performance.
4) Engage the BRAIN
The teacher will then explain the importance of applying the warm up techniques to a performance activity or an activity that involves using your brain
The Alphabet
The class will begin by trying to say the alphabet using one breath.
The speech
The class will practice saying their speeches. They will focus on engaging the breath and using the brain.
Application: The students will be asked to practice a warm up with a partner in the class. The teacher will assign a warm up for each partner team to complete the next week for a formal assessment.
3) Articulation
The teacher will teach the class about BIG FACE and LITTLE FACE and how we we need to stretch the muscles in mouth and cheeks to help our articulation.
The teacher will teach the class how to do lip trils using the piano. The class will sing mama made me mash my mnms, Beady (which focuses on the front of the facial mask), and goog which places the placement of the sound in the back of the throat.
The teacher will teach the class Big Watermelon, Cut it in Half, Here's some for you, and here's some for you with the purpose of further stretching the face to aid in proper articulation.
The teacher will model tongue twisters for the class. The Big Brown Bug ate the Big Brown Bear and the Big Brown Bled Blood and Red letter and yellow letter.
2) POWER
The teacher will instruct the class in power breathing. They will begin with the HA sound and using their body they will punch out the sound. The teacher will show the class how to do low punches and then moving up the levels of the body. This will also effect the way the power is focused. (Either through the groin area, the stomach, the chest, or even the head). This technique was taught not only in the U of H Voice class but also using some vocal techniques taught by Rena Cooke.
The teacher will instruct the class on the BOX of SOUND. Using the power of the breath we can magnify our sound by counting the box. Start on one level of sound and count a low ten, then as we rise counting from 1 to 10 the voice gets higher, then we count 1 to 10 on a high plane (the top of the box), then back down the side of the box from 10 to 1 from the sound going high to low.
1) BREATH
The lesson will begin with the teacher leading the class in stretching techniques. The stretching will be all over the body working each area of the body in order to allow the body to be loose and ready. The teacher will show the class how to complete a sun salutation pose as they open up their chests to take in full breaths. The teacher will closely monitor the class to make sure that the students are engaged in the activity and performing the breath and stretching techniques comfortably.
Warm Up: Pin the anatomy
The teacher will put four large diagrams of the anatomy of the head on the board and the names of the body parts on sticky cards. The class will be divided into four teams and the first team to label all of the parts will win. Regardless of the acuracy of the answers the teams offer it is the teacher's goal for the students to become familiar with the terms and just have fun together.
Lesson:
The teacher will let the class know that the purpose of identifying the anatomy of the voice is to help us understand our instrument and how we can use it, in order to complete a well executed warm up. The teacher will explain why we need to know how to warm up as actors and speakers. Warm ups allow us to be physically and emotionally prepared for the performance ahead of us. The energizing of our voice give us energy to articulate and clearly project our voices to our audience. Learning proper breathing techniques help us to sustain the breath which allows us to speak (or sing) longer and stronger. The teacher will tell the class that today they will learn how to execute the parts of a successful warm up: BREATH, POWER, ARTICULATION, ENGAGE the BRAIN. In addition to learning these keys they will be able to lead their classmates in a successful warm up. The teacher will remind the students that they can feel comfortable in the class and not be afraid to express themselves freely. The purpose of having this lesson at this point in the semester is that the students are comfortable with each other and should be willing to perform freely. The teacher will check for understanding and complete an informal assesment based on the class' participation.
Overview
Objective:
The student will be able to increase flexibility in their body. Why is it important for proper speaking technique for our bodies to be fully relaxed and stretched?
The student will be able to gain knowledge and understanding in the area of breath control, relaxation and energizing, and articulation of the voice. What is breath control? Why is a balance of relaxation and energy important for an actor? How can we develop vocal articulation?
The student will be able to perform a warm up activity (BREATH, POWER, ARTICULATION, ENGAGE the BRAIN) by leading their classmates in a warm up.
At the end of this lesson students will be able to lead their classmates in a full vocal warm up.
TEKS: 117.64 Theatre 1 (c) (1) Perception (b), (2) Creative Expression (a)
Population: Communications Applications Freshman Class at IWA
Materials: flexible clothing, bottle of water, and a great attitude
Pre work: At this point in the semester, students have already learned how to identify a good speech. The purpose of this lesson is to give the students the warm up tools, in order to complete a thorough vocal warm up.