THEATRE 240: Voice for Performance

Instructor: William Johnson

Office: PAC 213
Phone: 898-4607
E-Mail: wjohnson@csuchico.edu
Office Hours: MTWR 1:30 – 2:30; and by appointment
Theatre Department website: www.csuchico.edu/muta
Final Exam Day and Time: TBA

Texts:
The Actor Speaks by Patsy Rodenburg
Other readings as assigned

Course Description
Obviously, voice and speech training forms an important part of the education of anyone who aspires to act on the stage.
Less obvious, perhaps, but no less true is the value of training to those pursuing other careers -- teachers, lawyers,
broadcasters and business people, for instance -- where effective vocal communication is an integral part of daily work.

The guiding premise of this course is that speaking is a physical/intellectual/emotional act that is part innate and part
learned. Everyone possesses a natural eloquence and expressiveness that can be freed by shedding the habits and
constraints ingrained by years of vocal mis-education.

Course Objectives
Students should strive to
1. know the basic anatomy and physiology of the organs with which we produce voice and
speech;
2. understand the basics of phonetics and the IPA;
3. develop increased physical awareness of good skeletal alignment and the release of unwanted,
inhibiting muscular tension;
4. develop the use of deep-central breath support for effective voice production;
5. develop complete, tension-free phonation that produces a full, clear vocal tone;
6. develop resonance and articulation that enhances intelligibility and expressiveness of their speech;
7. become aware of any speech impediment, habit or regionalism that tends to obscure intended meaning or that runs
counter to the style or context of a production or presentation;
8. awaken and enhance a sensitivity to and pleasure in spoken language;

Class Format
Class usually will begin with a warm up. During the course of the term there will be intermittent lectures, but most of our
time will be spent doing vocal exercises or rehearsing selections of literature for presentation. Come prepared to work
hard, participate enthusiastically and have some fun; exploring and discovering your personal "best" voice can and should
be an exciting and enjoyable process. Also, please bring your texts and a notebook to every class period.

You are expected to apply yourself diligently outside class to the vocal exercises and performances assigned. Remember,
what YOU put into this course is exactly what you will get out of it. It is YOUR voice.

A few words about dress: loose, comfortable, unrevealing clothes that you that you can move in and aren't afraid to get a
bit dirty are best for this class. We will be doing lots of broad physical movement which will involve getting down on the
floor from time to time. Bring a pad or towel if you wish. Wear adequate shoes that don't impede movement.

Class Policies, Assignments and Grading

Attendance:
Each student is expected to attend every class session whether or not his or her work is the focus of the day. The success
of a class like this depends in large measure on the generous daily contribution of all its members. You may miss two
classes (the equivalent of one week) without penalty to deal with emergencies, sickness, and the other happenstances of
life. Your class participation score will be reduced for each of the next two absences. If you miss five or more classes
without providing notice and documentation of extraordinary circumstances beyond your control, I will either disenroll
you or assign you a final grade of WU (equivalent of an F). In accordance with the University Catalog, " you may report
an absence of more than a week's duration to the Office of Advising and Orientation when it results from circumstances
beyond your control, such as illness or accident.  The office will then send notification of your absence and the reason for
it to your instructors. Instructors can, if they choose, drop you from a course for non-attendance." With documented
serious and compelling reasons, you may either complete the course with a point deduction of 10% - 30% (the equivalent
of one to three letter grades) or ask for a grade of "I" and arrange for a signed plan to complete the coursework within one
year.

If you decide to drop the class, you are responsible for making all the arrangements. University guidelines for dropping
classes are strictly adhered to.

If you have a documented disability that may require reasonable accommodations, please contact the Accessibility
Resource Center for coordination of your academic accommodations:
Student Services Center 170, 530-898-5959

Expected Student Behavior in the Classroom

 No food or drink allowed in studios or theaters other than bottled water.

 Guests of students will not be allowed to “observe” classes without prior approval of the instructor.
 Except with specific permission of the instructor, students are expected to turn off all pagers, cell phones
and other electronic devices, including computers and smart-phones, during class time.
 Students are expected to pay attention and participate in class meetings and to reliably fulfill their
responsibilities to their scene partners in out of class rehearsals.
 Students may not work on other materials (newspapers, magazines, history homework, etc.) during class.
 Students are to remain in class during the entire session with the exception of breaks. Students are not
allowed to come and go during the class session.
 Children of enrolled students are not allowed in the classroom.
 All students have the right and privilege to learn in the class, free from harassment and disruption.
Behavior which violates the trust, goodwill and ethical standards of professional and personal respect
required of artists in the theatre will not be tolerated and will lead to expulsion from the class.
 The class follows the standards set in the California State University, Student Conduct Procedures (EO
970); the Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities (EM 96-38), and the Student Grievance
Procedures (EM 05-10)—See the Student Judicial Affairs website http://www.csuchico.edu/sjd/ or visit the
Student Judicial Affairs Office in Kendall Hall 110. Students are subject to disciplinary action for violation
of that code.

Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting

As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. I also have a
mandatory reporting responsibility related to my role as a XX (specify if desired). It is my goal that you feel able to share
information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one
meetings. I will seek to keep information you share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share
information regarding sexual misconduct with the University. Students may speak to someone confidentially by
contacting the Counseling and Wellness Center (898-6345) or Safe Place (898-3030). Information on campus reporting
obligations and other Title IX related resources are available here: www.csuchico.edu/title-ix.
Graded Assignments: Students bear sole responsibility for making up work missed due to absence.
Late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and will be penalized. All performance
assignments will require out-of-class rehearsal time.

Performances:
 vocal warm-up lead 100 points
 performance of jabberwocky 100 points
 performance of verse selection 100 points
 performance of prose selection 100 points

Written:
 IPA for Jabberwocky 100 points
 glossary for Jabberwocky 100points
 vocal Score for verse piece 100 points
 vocal Score for prose piece 100 points

Exams
 #1 -- voice training principles 100 points
 #2 -- speech and text 100 points
total points 1000 points

COURSE CALENDAR
NOTE: This schedule is tentative and we will deviate from it according to the needs of this particular
group of students. Additional reading assignments will be announced in class and posted on Blackboard.
Week One (1/22)
Introduction to the course and each other. Vocal anatomy and physiology. Alignment, centering and
neutral. Habits and locks. Locating and releasing unnecessary physical tension. Warming up.

Week Two (1/27 and 29)

Breath and Support. Stretches. Non-support habits. Capacity. Breathing rhythm. Fitness. Inspiration.
Sound on the breath. Recovery and release. Read Voice and Articulation chapter 2

Week Three (2/3 and 5)

Warming up the Voice. Releasing breath/voice tensions and blockages. Placing and sustaining voice on
support. Full and fast recoveries. Intoning. Breath, thought and space. Owning words. Read Actor Speaks
pp. 1-38.

Week Four (2/10 and 12*)

Resonance and range. Activating the resonators. Stretching the pitch range. Optimum pitch. Speaking
through the range. Read Actor Speaks pp. 38-63. Voice and Articulation pp. 69-72

Week Five (2/17 and 19)

Articulation-- Building blocks of speech. Consonants, vowels and dipthongs. Read Actor Speaks pp. 67-
81, pp.81-87

Week Six (2/24 and 26)

Listening, looking, learning and sight reading.
Read Actor Speaks pp.92-104, pp.104-122.

Week Seven (3/2 and 4)

Introduce IPA and Jabberwocky assignment

Week Eight (3/9 and 11)

Speech and IPA with Phonetic Pillows
Exam #1

March 16 – 20 Spring Break

Week Nine (3/23 and 25)

Begin Wordplay exercises with Phonetic Pillows
and Jabberwocky. Set up Verse and Prose assignment

Week Ten (3/30 and 4/1)

Continue Wordplay exercises with Phonetic Pillows
Wordplay exercises with Jabberwocky
Attend

Week Eleven (4/6 and 8)

Continue Wordplay exercises with Jabberwocky
Graded performances of Jabberwocky. Turn in glossary and IPA transcription

Week Twelve (4/13 and 15)

Wordplay with verse and prose pieces. Vocal Scoring.

Week Thirteen (4/20 and 22)

Practice and critique of verse and prose pieces, first round.

Week Fourteen (4/27 and 29)

Vocal Scoring exercises with verse and prose.
Attend

Week Fifteen (5/4 and 6)

Practice and critique of verse and prose pieces, second round
Exam #2

FINALS WEEK (5/11 – 15)

Verse and prose selections performed and paperwork turned in.