Voice and Speech for the Actor 1- THEA 201001

MW 11:00-12:20 pm Shafer Street Playhouse: Newdick Instructor: Katharine (Kate) Salsbury E-Mail: salsburyke@vcu.edu Telephone: 865-604-7775 Mailbox: Performing Arts Center, 2nd floor Office: 201 Shafer Office hours: By Appointment *The recommended method of communication outside of scheduled class time is email. Course Description The objective of this class is twofold: to train the student in the skills and techniques of vocal production for the speaking voice and to become aware and practice all possible actions in the mouth in order to develop muscular skills of articulation. A primary element of the work is the utilization of highly physical exercises involving the entire body, to establish the connection between freeing unnecessary tension and the production of sound. The program includes concepts and exercises from master teachers programs such as M. Feldenkrais and F. M. Alexander, Patsy Rodenburg, Catherine Fitzmaurice, Kristin Linklater, Arthur Lessac, Jo Estill, Dudley Knight and Phil Thompson. Voice work will progress from physical awareness, body alignment, freeing tension which frees the breath, the discovery of sound in the body, opening the channel (jaw, tongue, soft palate),and the exploration of resonance and vocal freedom. The student will apply all of these skills in speaking text which will be presented at the end of the semester. Required Text Freeing the Natural Voice, 2nd Edition Linklater, Kristin The Second Circle: How to Use Positive Energy for Success in Every Situation. Rodenburg, Patsy Required Daily Materials -Notebook -Writing Utensils -Colored Pencils for Script Scoring -A Binder or Large Folder for Handouts

-Audio Recording Device Other Required Materials -Reliable Access to a Printer*

-Video Recording Device* *Both of these items may be easily reserved from the library if you do not own your own.

Course Objectives The focus of this course will be to strengthen and build upon the foundational work youve done in your acting classes thus far, and to provide you with the technical and creative tools to bring any text to life. Some specific goals: Support the text fully with breath, voice, and tone. Identify and activate literary, rhetorical, and poetic devices. Access the imaginative and creative nature of the spoken word. Integrate voice and body to breathe life into text.

Grading Your final grade will be determined by the following: In Class Application (50%) -Mid Term Presentation of Imagery Poem and Warm-Up -Final Presentation of Imagery Poem and Narrative Poem - Quizzes, Mid Term Written Exam, and Final Exam At Home Response Work (40%) -Blog Posts (6) *See below -Scoring of Texts Participation (10%) -Professional Growth - Attendance and Engagement

VCUs Letter Scale A 90-100% B 80-89% C 70-79% D 60-69% F below 59%

Course Schedule
Date 26 August 1 Reading/Viewing Due! First Day of Fall Semester
View Patsy Rodenburg: Why I Do Theatre on Youtube in class.

Homework Due! Orientation & Syllabus

28 August

Read How The Voice Works Why the Voice Does Not Work (LINKLATER)

Why I Do Theatre Project

2 Septembe r 4 Septembe r

NO CLASS- LABOR DAY!

Read Intro pgs. 14 of (CIRCLE) Watch Patsy Rodenburg The Second Circle on Youtube. Watch Brene Brown TED Talks The Power of Vulnerability

9 Septembe r

Read Housdsen article Read "Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn" Read Chapter 1 (LINKLATER)

11 Septembe r 16 Septembe r 18 Septembe

Read Chapter 2 (LINKLATER) Read Chapter 3 (LINKLATER)

Read Chapter 4 (LINKLATER)

Blog Post #1 Due! Imagery Poem Selections Due!

r 23 Septembe r 25 Septembe r 30 Septembe r 2 October 7 October 9 October 14 October

Read pgs. 14-24 of (CIRCLE) Watch Your body language shapes who you are. (WEB) Read Chapter 5 (LINKLATER)

Imagery Poem Memorized! Blog Comments Due!

Read Chapter 6 (LINKLATER)

Blog Post #2 Due! Poetry Analysis Due on Blog! Blog Comments Due! Mid Term Performance and Written Exam Narrative Poem Selections Due! FALL BREAK! Blog Post #3 Due!

6 7 7 8

Read Chapter 7 (LINKLATER) Read pgs. 357-359 (LINKLATER)

16 October 21 October 23 October 28 October 30 October 4 November 6 November 11 November

8 9

Read Chapters 8 &9 (LINKLATER) Read Chapter 10 (LINKLATER)

10 Read Chapter 11 (LINKLATER)

Narrative Poems Memorized! Blog Comments Due!

10 11 Read Chapters 12 & 13

(LINKLATER)

Blog Post #4 Due! Poetry Analysis Due on Blog!

11 12 Read Chapters 15 & 16

(LINKLATER)

HAIRSPRAY Matinee Blog Comments Due!

13 November 18 November 20 November 25 November 27 November 2 December 3 December 4 December ___ December

12 13 Read Chapters 17 & 18

(LINKLATER)

HAIRSPRAY Matinee

13 14 14 15 15 16 Blog Comments Due! Final ExamPresentation of Both Poems Happy Thanksgiving! Blog Post #6 Due! Any Extra Credit Due!

*The contents of this syllabus and course timeline are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor and to the benefit of the class. Application and Performance You will demonstrate your mastery of the body/breath connection and presence as well as your understanding of sound, literary devices, and operative words through your poetry text in performance. The bulk of your grade will be determined by your work in and out of class in crafting a performance of two poems, an imagery poem and a narrative poem. An imagery poem should engage the audience by painting a sensory picture in their mind using vocabulary and literary devices. The tone should express a specific attitude of the character, which will be made clearer by ones own imaginative interpretation of the text. A narrative poem tells a story and has a clear plot with an introduction, climax, and resolution. The narrator may be a witness to or an active participant in the tale.

For your Mid Term, you and your warm-up group will be responsible for warming up your voice and body and presenting your imagery poem. There will also be a written portion of this exam. For your Final, the class will put together 3 minute poetry packages as if for an audition. Each actor will then receive a call back where he or she will do a Cold Read of a piece of poetic text. Blog Post RequirementsEach student will create a blog using Googles Blogger technology through his or her VCU gmail. Required blog posts make up a major portion of a students grade. Students are responsible for posting at least biweekly. Each required blog post must include: 1) Video of the student rehearsing his or her poem(s) with a verbal critique. For at least three of these videos, the student must bring in a guest to critique their rehearsal and offer suggestions. 2) A 500 word post or 3-5 minute video review of a professional theatre performance. These reviews should deal specifically with the vocal production in the piece. Of the six (6) required reviews, three (3) must be live productions, two (2) must be live productions that were filmed, and only one (1) may be of film. 3) A 350 word post or a 3-5 minute video response to the required reading for that week. Each post must include brief citation of the source and should then expand on that idea. 4) Other Written Assignments, which may include, but are not limited to, in-depth poetry analyses, progress reports, and responses to other articles and required reading. 5) A 350 word post with a video/sound clip analyzing a voice using Estill terminology learned in class. 6) Students are also responsible for commenting on at least three of their fellow students blogs biweekly. These responses should be no fewer than 100-200 words in length and should add something new to the discussion. For all of these projects, you may work in teams or groups, but keep in mind that each student must contribute equally, so if you decide to film a group of four of you responding to the reading from that week, your total time for your video must be at least 12 minutes. You are encouraged to work together and to be guests on each others blogs, but keep in mind that you alone are responsible for the maintenance of your blog/vlog and will be graded individually. 6

All blog posts are due at 11:59:00 pm on the day outlined in the course schedule. I do not accept late work. Period. No grace will be given. If you lack any of the components of the blog post, you will lose all points for that post. Bear in mind that uploading video can be very time consuming, so plan ahead. Technical difficulty is not an excuse. Please carefully read and edit your blog posts for common grammar and spelling mistakes. Although you are posting in a more casual forum, you are expected to keep your responses academic and respectful. Please bear in mind the work outlined in the Course Schedule is required and expected of everyone. Only those who go above and beyond in their posts may expect an A. Rules of Classroom Decorum 1. Attendance in all classes is mandatory! You are therefore allowed no more than two absences. With a third absence, your final grade will automatically drop one full letter and will continue to drop one letter grade with each additional absence. Lateness in excess of 10 minutes will be considered a complete absence. Two tardies equal one absence. Each class builds off the next. Consider this class part of your job as an actor. As a professional, there is no job in the theatre for which you can be either late or absent. In the event you are absent from a class, it is your responsibility to find out what was missed and to make sure that all work is completed. 2. The instructor does not accept late work. Period. Professionalism is expected. 3. Active participation and effort is expected in all class discussions, exercises and demonstrations. 4. It may be necessary for your instructor to make physical contact with you to determine breathing muscle tension, alignment, etc. or in the form of interactive role-playing. If this ever makes you feel uncomfortable, please let the instructor know immediately. Your signing of this document serves as your acceptance of this policy. 5. Be respectful of your fellow actors in performance and also in critique. All criticism will be constructive in nature. 6. We will all respect the space in which we work. Upon entering the room, silence is expected. Please do all socializing in the corridor before class time begins. It is assumed that when one enters the space, it is solely for the purpose of work; therefore immediately proceed to your own personal warm-up and preparation until we begin a group warm up. Each class will 7

begin with five minutes of silence. Utilize this time for personal reflection and to make goals for each class period. 7. Dress Code - In keeping with departmental policy, you must wear black movement clothing during class. Shirts that are too short or too low will not be permitted. Jewelry must be removed. 8. Hygiene - You will be working closely with other actors so hygiene is very important. Please bathe regularly, wear clean clothes, and use deodorant. If you do not follow these requirements you may be asked to leave class. All matters relating to personal hygiene will be handled sympathetically and, where relevant, with medical confidentiality. 9. If class is canceled, any assignment due (unless it is a Blog Post) will be due the next class period we meet. If I need to cancel a class for any reason I will inform you via email. 10. Video Recording- For learning and teaching purposes, some classes may be recorded visually. You may or may not have advance notice of the recording. By signing this syllabus, you hereby authorize the instructor to use your image, likeness, or voice in teaching or interview materials without compensation.