Tips for Actors
Voice Work
Why won't my voice carry ? On stage your voice must
resonate in the facial mask. Your voice carries via sound
wave resonance, not volume, and you posses natural resonators
in the sinus, thorax and chest cavities. Use these properly
and your voice will fill the room. To exercise your voice
get into the daily habit of alternate humming and speaking.
Say mmmm until you feel your lips and nose really buzz. Then
blend the "mmm" into the number one. MMM-one. Count
to ten, mmm-one, mmm-two, mmm-three, etc. Now speak and enjoy
the difference!
Why has my jaw gone tight and my voice
shaking ? When we're nervous, we produce the hormones
adrenaline and noradrenalin. These hormones cause our muscles
to contract, causing the famous “fight or flight”
response. Your jaw willache and your voice become shaky because
during stress, the diaphragm muscles contract, breathing becomes
shallow, the heart beats faster and we can’t get enough
breath.
Find Your Diaphragm : Place one hand
on the upper portion of the stomach just a few inches above
the navel but below the breast bone. Sniff in several small
inhalations per breath through the nose. The movement in that
area is the diaphragm working at its best. If you're breathing
correctly (diaphragmatically) your stomach should feel as
if it is filling up, expanding. But if your chest is rising
you are breathing superficially.
How To Breathe From The Diaphragm
: Place one hand just above your stomach and the other on
your upper chest. Purse lips slightly as if you're going to
whistle. Exhale slowly through pursed lips while slightly
contracting the stomach muscles. Its not necessary to force
all the air out. Inhale slowly through the nose. Pause slightly
to allow for better oxygen exchange in the lungs. Repeat.
Exhalation should be slightly longer than inhalation.
The diaphragm should do at least 80% of the
work of breathing. In order for you to get the most out of
this magnificent muscle, you should practice regularly several
times a day to ensure that you are not breathing superficially
from your upper chest.
The Actor Speaks: Voice and the Performer
As an actor, you have a tool for communication-- your voice.
This is a practical book from the acclaimed Patsy Rodenburg,
follow the guides and exercises to fully release your voice.
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