Voice I

Catalog Description

Course designed to help the would-be performer begin to discover and develop the vocal instrument.

Proposed update: Introduces techniques for increasing vocal ease and expressivity, with an emphasis on cultivating free and spontaneous breath impulse. Introduces the range of human speech sounds experientially, as a prelude to detailed phonetics and accent work. Provides a framework for developing a personal practice of voice and speech.

Meets

MWF 10:30am - 12:00pm
WDC Newman Studio

Student Learning Objectives

Through active engagement with this course, you can learn to:

1. Speak audibly, intelligibly, and engagingly onstage;

2. Allow your breath and voice to respond freely and spontaneously to acting impulses;

3. Describe and execute all the sounds of human speech;

4. Engage critically with issues of voice, speech, identity, and artistry.

5. Develop a personal voice/speech practice in support of your artistry.

Texts & Materials Needed

• The required textbook for the speech component of this course is Experiencing Speech: A Skills-Based, Pan-Lingual Approach to Actor Training by Caban, Foh, and Parker. This title is available for download from the U-M Library.

• We will also be reading Permission to Speak by Samara Bay. This is available for online reading from the U-M Library, or you may purchase a copy from various retailers. You are welcome to read this or listen to the audio-book edition.

• Rehearsal attire

  • We will be moving in class. Please come dressed in comfortable clothing that allows you to move easily for acting. Gym attire is not required, but please avoid high heels, tight pants, short skirts, and other obstacles to free movement. Please choose clothing that allows you to move freely in the shoulders, hips, and torso. 

• Yoga or exercise mat

  • Depending on the studio, there may be mats available for floor work. Otherwise, you are encouraged to bring your own yoga or exercise mat. It's important that you be able to lie on the floor for extended periods in comfort, and most people like a little cushioning.

• Writing materials

  • Please bring a journal or notebook and something to write with. There may be opportunities for written reflection during class. For many people, pen and paper can be more effective for deep learning than taking notes electronically, but all modes of note taking are welcome.

I will distribute any additional performance texts, handouts, readings, videos, etc. in class or via Canvas.

Course Content

Most days will start with a physical/vocal warmup. We will build on this warmup over the course of several weeks, and at the end of the term you will make it your own by teaching a class session as part of a small team.

You may be wondering, "Why is there a class about talking? I've been talking since I was a small child!" That's a fair question! Most of us use only a fraction of our expressive vocal potential, and our voices tend to reflect the personae we want the world to see. As actors, it's useful to expand our vocal capabilities and experiment with our vocal identities.

The course will explore themes such as:

• Sound is movement

• Shape creates speech

• Words are action

• Voice is identity

A common misconception about voice/speech training is that it is intended to "fix" your "problems". I promise you, this training is designed to expand on your current vocal identities and the expressive brilliance you already bring into the room. It's not about erasing you in any way. You will be in charge of any transformation or growth you choose to undertake. I am simply here to help you with that project. Your voice is already welcome here.

Major Assignments

• Vocal Identity Presentations:

  • Artist Statement: A first-week dive into presence and performance.

  • Voice Identity Performances: An exploration of the ways your voice shapes/is shaped by your world.

  • Voice Haiku: A movement-based performance sourced from personal observations about your own voice.

• Individual Coaching: Application of vocal learning through in-class performance and coaching.

• Group-Led Class Sessions: Collaborating with your practice pod to take ownership of the semester's work.

• Omnish Infomercial: An improvised, team sales pitch using all the sounds of human speech.

• "Voices in the Wild": In-class explorations of student-sourced audio samples that will help us build a common vocabulary around voice and speech, culminating in an intervocal final ensemble performance exploring story, identity, self, and other.

Community Standards

Community agreements are different from rules in that they are community-focused, aspirational, non-hierarchical, and adaptable. I'll start by offering the following community norms and we will decide as a group if we need additional agreements to support everyone's learning:

• We aspire to a consent-based learning environment. Consent is contextual, reversible, and relies on being fully informed.

• Self-care cue: If you experience a moment of heightened concern or activation, please use the word "button" (or a non-verbal double-clap). We will all pause to take a breath, allowing our nervous systems to calibrate to the moment, and then we will make space for your needs. The appropriate response to someone's "button" is a generous "What do you need?"

• We will honor people's various access needs and respect one another's boundaries (physical, professional, personal, and cultural).

• We will assume benevolence on the part of others and extend grace when possible.

• We will take care of ourselves and one another.

• We will practice skillful communication:

  • We will "speak from the 'I'" and allow ourselves and others to "speak in draft" (thank you to Nicole Brewer for this language.)

• • We will make space and take space: If you feel yourself talking a lot, try listening more. If you find yourself mostly listening, please consider sharing your thoughts.

  • We will listen to understand rather than to respond.

  • We will practice the skill of apologizing for harm that we unintentionally cause.

• In order to practice care for one another, we will communicate content disclosures before performances that may be particularly activating. 

• If we find ourselves not living up to these agreements, anyone can use "button" as a calling-in mechanism for community accountability.

 Additions and Edits 2023-2024: