Rudimentary concepts and ideas upon which creative dramatics and educational drama are established would be taught. Students will be exposed to styles and techniques of children’s/youth drama and divisor especially in teaching educational subjects.
THA 107: Introduction to Voice, Speech, and Accent for Stage and Screen Performances (2units)
To introduce students to the basic knowledge of voice, speech, and accent work for stage and screen performances. Students in this course will work on the basics and rudiments of voice, speech and accent work for performers as trainee actors. This course will lay the ground work for the embodiment of an expressive, intelligibility with clarity using selected vocal pedagogies around the globe each session for the students. The students will also understand the health (vocal, emotional, mental and physical) needs of a theatre artist.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to teach students the effectiveness of speaking in a distinct manner on stage, performances and in everyday situations. Students will learn how to differentiate between acting for the stage and for the screen, as well as how to care for the voice, body, and mind while becoming independent performers through monologue presentations.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
- To define voice, speech, accent and breath as they relate to various vocal pedagogies.
- To explain the students become good stage and screen actors.
- To identify and discuss the common vocal abuse in rehearsals and performance.
- To classify the occupational voice demands on the actor in performances and everyday situations.
- To employ J. C. Wells Lexical Sets for accent and performance
ASSESMENT
Class Attendance               10 marks
Practical assessment          30 marks
Theory Examination          60 marks
 LECTURE PLAN
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Week |
Topic |
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Week 1 |
What is voice? What are the four essential components of voice and speech? What is speech? What are the organs of speech? |
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Week 2 |
What is breath? What are the different types of breathing? |
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Week 3 |
What is Accent? What is dialect? What is the importance of accent to performance space? |
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Week 4-6 Â |
An introduction to the twenty-seven (27) lexical sets Introduction to phonemic transcription |
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Week 7-8 |
Healthy voice versus Damaged voice Understanding vocal abuse |
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Week 9-10 |
Occupational vocal demands on the actor as a performing artist. |
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Week 11-12 |
African text Monologue presentation for Assessment |
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Week 13-15 |
Revision and examination |
READING LIST
Berry, C. (1992). The Actor and The Text, 1st edition, Cicely Berry, Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, New York. 1992.
Berry, C. ((1973). Voice and The Actor, 1st edition, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1973.
Gates, L. (2022). Voice for Performance: Training the Actor’s Voice. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
Gimson, A. C. Pronunciation of English, 7th Edition.
Jones, C. (1996). Make Your Voice Heard. Back Stage Books, New York.
Jones, D. (2020) Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, Nineteenth Edition. University Cambridge Press.
Knight, D. (2012). Speaking with Skills: An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, London.
Skinner, E. (1990). Speak with Distinction. Wells, J. C. Longman Pronouncing Dictionary
Wells, J. C. (1982). Accents of English: Volume 1. Cambridge University Press.