Voice Reflection

11/4/15
Adrian Thornburg

This semester has really begun delving into the kind of voice work that I kind of pictured
when I first learned I would be in a voice class for Acting BFA. Were really looking at sounds
and even a bit at dialects. Were learning IPA and how to use it to better understand text. Were
figuring out what our own accents are and how to both embrace them, and know how to speak in
a more neutral American way. On top of all of that, we are beginning to learn about
archetypes, building up our repertoire of things to draw from for all kinds of roles.
First of all, no voice reflection is truly accurate if I dont touch on tension and my ability to make
sound naturally and without injury. We spent so much time on it, checking up on that part of me
has become second nature. For the most part, I have felt very healthy on that front. Hairspray
did create some vocal fatigue, both in the early parts of learning music and near the end of the
run, but I thought that was mostly unavoidable. Even with basically healthy support, the throat
can only take so much singing at that range and volume without protest. Its like training your
legs every day at the gym, but still getting sore if you have to stand on tiptoes for a few hours at
once. It is simply a muscle not used to being used that much. I did not sustain any serious or
lasting damage (at least, that I know of), so I think I am doing alright. I am aware of tension in
the shoulders and jaw, especially in April Hills class voice, and I warm up regularly, even when
I am not sure I will be singing that day. Being connected to breath tends to help my energy and
overall well being anyway, so I might as well.

I have taken to IPA much faster and better than I thought I would. It has become
something fun. I find myself seeing things in the world and trying to figure out which IPA
symbols they would be. I still sometimes slip and put an s when it needs to be a z and other
things like that, but for the most part, I think I have the hang of it. I especially look forward to
using it to learn unfamiliar dialects, and figuring out which sounds are different in neutral
American, and what symbol they use instead. I also was very good at IPA bingo. I am pretty
sure I won every single time we played, sometimes more than once in one day. I guess I am just
lucky. That, or IPA likes me.
Archetypes have been fascinating and very enjoyable for me. I work well with the sort of
ethereal acting exercises you and sometimes Denise will employ. They fire up my imagination,
and if something interests me about where my imagination takes me, it will stick, which is useful
for future roles. I know some actors are very good at physicalizing a certain spirit or aura, and I
think this kind of work will help me get to that level. I especially like the more female based
archetypes, because I think I have in me the ability to portray a feminine energy pretty well, but I
just need the physical ease to follow. I would like to play Hedwig from Hedwig and the Angry
Inch. That very crossable line between genders is an interest to me, thus my choice for a
workshop this semester with Late: A Cowboy Song which explores those themes. Our work so
far with The Huntress and The Lover has given me some insight into what I can do with that,
without the fear of being judged.