Tech Tips To Go

Technology Made Easier

Category - Media

Topic - Acting Activities

Issue - Exercises to improve your voice expression

Tiptoid -

As an actor in many of my school's video productions, I always need to have a loud, clear, expressive, and multi-faceted voice. To develop my voice, I often do voice warm-ups. Here are some voice warm-up activities that help me.*

1. Smile Pucker - Smile with exaggeration, letting your teeth show and drawing the lips as tightly as possible, making your cheek muscles hurt. Say “eeeeeeee.” Then with exaggeration, pucker or protrude your lips, saying “oooooooooo.” Repeat ten times each in quick succession (eeeeeeee-ooooooo). Repeat with “mee-moo,” “tee-too,” “bee-boo,” “gee-goo,” “lee-loo.”

2. Open Wide - Open your mouth as wide as possible. Say “ahhhhh.” Now close your mouth, saying “ooooo.” Repeat “ahhhhhh-ooooooooo” several times, being sure to open your mouth extremely wide.

3. Tongue Tip - Stretch your tongue, trying to touch the tip of your nose. With your tongue, now try to touch your chin. Only one in 1,000 people can actually do either, so don't worry if you can't succeed. The stretch is the important thing. Repeat several times.

4. Tongue Stretch - Curl up your tongue and touch the soft palate at the back of your throat. Now push out your right cheek and then your left cheek as far as you can with your tongue. Repeat.

5. Tongue Twisters - Say quickly - with exaggerated tongue, lip, and jaw movements - several of the following tongue twisters.

Much whirling water makes the mill wheel work well.
Odd birds always gobble green almonds in the autumn.
She makes a proper cup of coffee in a copper coffee pot.
Round and round the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.
Shave a cedar shingle thin.
Double bubble gum bubbles double.
Sinful Caesar slipped his snifter, seized his knees and sneezed.

Being an actor on TV, in a video, or on stage, isn't easy. You can't be shy, you always have to be aware of the role you're going to play, and you must develop strong skills. The actor's voice is an important communication tool. Treat it well!

* excerpts from Creative Communication Projects in Acting, Speaking and Oral Reading by Fran Averett Tanner

Glossary -

multi-faceted - having many aspects

Find Out More - http://www.angelfire.com/nb2/musicedresources/VoicWarm.html

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Submitted by - Steven Chung

Site Manager - Andrew An

May 2006