An Actor Prepares:How to treat your voice before taking

the stage

Gretchen McGinty, MA, CCC-SLP

Why should actors care about their voice?

• Acting puts a high demand on the vocal instrument.

• Actors are at a higher risk for vocal fatigue, strain and voice disorder as a result

The Actor’s Instrument=Voice

• What do actors need vocally to have a good performance?

• Proper breath supportin order to project and be heard

• Pleasant vocal qualityto properly convey character and make audiences listen

• Good vocal stamina to last a two hour or longer performance/ 8 shows a week!

How does it all work?

• Your vocal folds sit over your trachea and are set into vibration by air rushing through them

• To produce a ‘healthy voice’ you need -good breath support-good resonance

-relaxed upper body (head and neck tension can ‘strangle’ the voice and cause problems)

Good Vocal Hygiene

Water, water, everywhere!Tip: aim for half your body weight in ounces. (140 lbs= 70oz water/day)

Avoid alcohol and caffieneForget the old school actors-Quit smoking!Avoid throat clearing, coughing &

whisperingGet your zzzzzzz’sDon’t speak excessively on performance

days-rest the voice

The Actor’s Warm up

• Stretching• Breath work• Articulation• Voice & Resonance

Stretch

Face JawNeckShouldersRibs

BREATHING 101

• Breathe from the diaphragm (aka Belly breaths)• Proper breath support =Vocal control +Projection

Articulation• Warm up front, middle and back sounds• Front: /b/ and /p/ • Middle: /t/ and /d/• Back: /k/ and /g/Repeat 3-4x each:And far Beyond at the edge of the day, the Bong of the Bell of the Buoy in the BayPeppercorn pudding and pelican pieThe tip of the tongue, the teeth and the lipsDon’t you dirty dog! Kinky cookieGiggle gaggle

Voice & Resonance• Find your natural pitch: ‘mm-hmm’,

‘meme..one’• Practice projection using proper breath

support. Point and say “One”. Point in a new direction “One, two”, etc.

• Warm up resonance: hum with hands on chest, then hum into “1,2,3,4,5”, hum with hands in front of face (like a sounding board) then count, hum with hands on top of head then count.

Challenges for the Actor• The dreaded CORSET—inhale fully expanding ribs

and hold breath. Do not let them cinch you in too tight!

• Yelling!—the “push” should come from your belly, not your throat! (diaphragmatic breathing)

• Vocal fatigue—your voice will tire the more you perform. Take voice naps (silence) when you can

• The raked stage—Be aware of maintaining correct posture (no leaning forward). You must stretch before and after.

Questions????

• Stemple J., Glaze L., and Klaben, B. Clinical Voice Pathology: Theory and Management. 3rd ed. San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group; 2000.

• Miller,S. Be Heard The First time: The woman’s Guide to Powerful Speaking. Herndon, VA: Capital Books, Inc.; 2006.

• Rodenberg, Patsy. The Need for Words. New York, NY: Routledge, Inc. 1993.

• www.toastmasters.org• www.speaking-tips.com

References