Power of Communication- What Our Voices Reveal

Catalog description

This workshop addresses various aspects of the voice from the collective to the personal. As members of society, we hold views and attitudes about our world. These views encompass our voice, which serves as a basis for how we interact in the world and with each other. Our actual spoken voices are the auditory expressions of our voice, which convey personal information about our experiences, beliefs, and outlooks. This workshop will address various aspects of voice and speech from the cultural to the personal. In the lecture sections, students will consider these aspects and will be exposed to current ideas on vocal communication. Students will consider Standard Speech, variations of English speech, and the assumptions embedded in their uses. Students will be presented with audio/visual examples of speech varieties for discussion. In the experiential sections, students will participate in a vocal warm-up and will be exposed to exercises drawn from theatrical vocal training including relaxation, breath control, volume, articulation, etc. Students will address their own vocalizations and what they may convey in a relaxing and informative format. Wear comfortable clothes, and be prepared to enjoy being exposed to what actors know: the power of the voice to communicate your voice. No grade equivalents allowed.