tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48626582930444683142024-02-08T03:53:15.057-08:00TheatretrainofthoughtIt's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-71823028127068798432016-03-15T15:33:00.002-07:002016-03-15T15:33:45.497-07:00Mid-Term Assessment overview for reference<div class="MsoNormal">
My upcoming mid-term assessment shall be this Thursday, some
reflective thoughts I have been asked to question I thought might be helpful to
put here as an honest self-assessment. (Also it helps when you only have 15
minutes for when your mind inevitably always goes blank!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u>Professional <o:p></o:p>behaviour</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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In terms of professional behaviour, apart from one occasion at
the start of term I have been punctual, and week 5 was my absence, I have been
punctual and where I need to be at the appropriate times. For rehearsal I try
and get there 10 minutes early to ensure all the props and set are in place
ready for cast, sometimes the cast do help which is kind. Clothing I usually
stick to jeans and an appropriate jumper, I do have sturdy boots which I usually
wear also, otherwise I haven’t worn heels, but have made an error once or twice
of wearing a dress which whilst in meetings and rehearsal spaces it isn’t an
issue, when working with the sets dresses got in the way! I think I have worked
safely and ensured I met the safety
requirements when working with particular equipment, when moving set in and out
of rehearsal spaces especially sometimes I have had to ask for help due to
weights I cannot handle alone. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u>Efficiency <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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In my working method, the efficiency I have begun to regularly
apply stands as arriving by 10am (this may not be as early as possible but it
works with the free bus that is provided for students) this means I am
available if extra help is required with the ASM’s otherwise that gives me time
to do extra work on DSM work such as blocking the script. For the rehearsal at
1pm, I ensure I am there 10 minutes early to get in the props and set and ask
for help if necessary rather than taking up valuable rehearsing time. Now that
the meetings are sorted at consistently being at 4pm, I leave at 3:50 to ensure
I am prompt and ready for the meeting to take notes and update with the rest of
the crew. After the rehearsal I go straight through to the rehearsal space and
clear up ensuring everything is as it was left (clean and tidy) and everything
is back in its place for when people need to use it next. Over the weeks I have
gotten into the habit of typing the rehearsal notes and minutes that evening to
send out promptly, although late, to the crew. Admittedly in the last week this
did not occur and I will make a conscious effort to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I like to consider myself as working well in a team. I have
tried to assist where possible for all the crew members, the stage manager and I
particularly are good at ensuring we both have everything we need and help where
possible. One example of assistance was in week 8, a group of us helped with
Bradley Manning to build chairs efficiently so they were done sooner. Admittedly communication is a problem which I am
working on addressing as cast don’t know all the progress and I have been
unable to answer questions on props, sound and costume, which I would like to
start asking crew the night before if there are any updates the cast are likely
to need to know. That will be addressed this week to ensure a smoother running
forward looming closer to the performance date. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u>Ownership over
tasks<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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I consider myself as positive with the tasks I do, however
the blocking of the script isn’t looking as good as it can do at this point therefore
I shall remain behind or spend some extra time outside of Thursdays to ensure
it is done to a better standard for cast and crew to understand my notes. I am
proactive in many ways, but at times I have responded after a situation has occurred
so that is something to address in the coming weeks. One moment I did consider myself
as being proactive responding to a situation happened in week 8; <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was after rehearsals and I was cleaning up my rehearsal
space, as we were in the mirror room I had to pass through the blue room to get
to the workshop to put props and set away. At this time obviously rehearsal had
finished, as my meeting finishes when all other groups are packing away anyway.
upon walking through the blue room a couple of times from set and prop
delivering back, I noticed all the cast leaving, the DSM had left early for
reasons and the space was left from rehearsal, no one taking action to clean
up. With the last props to put away, I spoke to the cast with their coats on all
ready to leave and offered to put it away since no one else had. They were
pleased at my offering and left moments after, I then cleared their space
ensuring their props were tidily away in their shed for their next rehearsal
instead of going missing. This, although inconvenient to my time as I had to
get home, I did without complaining and put everything away. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In terms of creativity, the only way I feel this role can
truly express creativity is in rehearsal ideas putting input into my overview of
scenes etc, and the blocking of the script. A few times cast and the director
have used and liked the ideas I put forward which has been reassuring. For the
script blocking, I have started with imaginative effect ideas however this is
something that I can address to perhaps be more so, and detailed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u>Technical competency<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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I am not one to be using tech as such, but with the
equipment I have encountered so far with helping in the workshop I feel I am
safe and correct in my usage. Mostly It has been the drills I have been using
when building the chairs in week 8 and whilst in a big group of people we
ensured we were spaced out on flat surfaces building so as to not put anyone
else in harms way. For the coming weeks where I may be operating the lighting, I
feel I am competent and safe to do so. <o:p></o:p></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-67241185406453336462016-03-15T14:53:00.002-07:002016-03-15T14:53:23.218-07:00week 5 - 8 DSM role <div class="MsoNormal">
Week 5 of this course unfortunately due to family
circumstances I could not turn up, therefore someone took over my role for a
week which meant unfortunately rehearsal notes weren’t typed up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Week 6 I was trying to find my feet again. I came in early
to catch up and get up to speed having missed a week. This followed on to a meeting
with Dave to catch up and then into the usual rehearsal process. I briefly
helped out in the workshop but as such didn’t have much time before rehearsal. During
the rehearsal I carried all the space, this week the focus was on staging and running
slick scene changes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Week 7, this week I came in early, having spent the morning
starting to block the script for rehearsal purposes, especially when I am not
there the director can use it to reference, I wasn’t able to get into the
workshop to work on set. Rehearsal was slightly interrupted due to costume
workshops at the adjoining theatre we are working with. Admittedly it was fun
as I joined in with the active warm up! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Week 8 was a very busy week, turning up early, I went straight
into the workshop to help Ayan with the set. Admittedly there wasn’t much I could
help with but nonetheless I wanted to help. Afterwards I had to leave for lunch
and then rehearsal, all the set was left in the workshop though as there was
still work that needed doing and also it couldn’t fit through all the doors
into the mirror room. The scenes were split up and therefore there weren’t many
notes to report back. Additionally, this week in the meeting I led it as the SM
was absent. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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With regards to the lighting SM dropping out, if needed I shall
be stepping up to make sure the show runs accordingly assisting the sound SM on
the night of rehearsal. The minutes and rehearsal reports over week 6 and 7 and
for the 3<sup>rd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup> week of this course I was quick to
the mark in getting them uploaded and sent round to the crew. Unfortunately, in
week 8 I had other commitments over the weekend that meant I couldn’t upload
until the following Monday. Having noticed my errors and the effect it has on
the crew not being updated I will make a conscious effort to ensure this doesn’t
happen again. Dave sent me feedback over weeks 3 and 4 which I feel I paid
attention to and adhered to since receiving the notes in which I can improve. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In my opinion I have been good with timekeeping with a few
late arrivals early on in the course, since then I ensured I was in even if it
meant I could get on with DSM work individually and be at hand if needed, I feel
this has helped as on a few occasions I have been asked to assist. For example
week 6 I was called into the workshop for just under an hour before rehearsal
to assist with wood cutting as it wasn’t a job to be done alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-20536796701377448142016-02-11T03:20:00.000-08:002016-02-11T03:20:34.924-08:00A new role weeks 1-3
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hey there! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second project of making theatre is taking part in the
process of bringing theatre shows to life. As the first years we have all
been assigned a role for the process of the technical aspects of theatre life
to help the third years prepare for their final production. My assigned role was DSM!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Deputy Stage manager, my role mainly lies with
interactions with the cast and communicating any needs to the rest of the crew
whilst helping SM and ASM’s with their roles. Additionally, it is my
responsibility to type up minutes from any production meetings and rehearsal
reports from rehearsals I have sat through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Due to timetable mishaps, I am unable to make the monday 1-4
rehearsal so I post reports every Thursday after attending the rehearsals, apart from the hour absence for the production meeting. Admittedly in the first few weeks,
due to other commitments and being ill, I was rather late in sending the minutes round
and I didn’t realise until week 3 that I was required to do a rehearsal report
so that was delayed in starting until week 3. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is currently week 4, I thought it was best to start the
blog after a few weeks as it has been a fairly bumpy start trying to get into a
smooth routine with everyone knowing what they were doing. There, for example,
were a few job roles that were misunderstood and this led to confusions of the
responsibility of each individual which thankfully these have been sorted and
everyone is aware of what they have to do. Although, our lighting tech assistant
has just the other day dropped out so that may be problematic but as a group I am
confident we can work through it and come up with a plan to spread the role out
evenly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second week charlotte and I were in early to start
preparing the set followed by meeting the cast, although trains had run late so
I was 15 minutes late instead of 15 minutes early. We couldn’t meet the cast
the first week so it was merely a meeting to set things up the first week to
get everyone up to scratch with how things will be set out in terms of basic
set etc. second week was when things got a lot busier, before the rehearsal
myself, the SM and the DSM’s gathered a few immediate hand held props for the
rehearsal before we had our production meeting. For this week I wasn’t needed
in rehearsal as it was just running through little scenes and I had turned up
late so was told I could go home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Week 3 was a lot busier than previous, having turned up
early to be there in case I was needed, a few hours early before rehearsals and
meetings begun, there was a problem with no one from our team having turned up
for the set making, as well as a member dropping from the course, week 4, (as I
am typing this) I had turned up by 10am in case I was needed to assist with the
set. As far my services haven’t been needed. The day started for me at 12 in
week 3, I had a meeting to understand how to use Freecycle to start gathering
set, then a half hour break before heading straight into rehearsals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For this weeks’ rehearsal, it was my first proper
interaction with the cast so I made a point of going around the group of cast
to introduce myself properly and make them aware that I am there for any needs
they require. This therefore meant a lot of props and set questions to be
looked into where they are having interaction with the crew. I have a feeling
that the next rehearsal meeting there will be a smaller requirement of props
and sound as things should start to fall into place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Regardless of a bumpy start I am thoroughly enjoying having
involvement in a show outside of acting. Whilst a busy role, it’s productive
and already heavily rewarding to see a show come together the way it is. And plus,
I always look forward to the biscuits in the production meeting! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next week </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-71208738096661908452015-12-11T09:33:00.005-08:002015-12-11T09:33:30.752-08:00Week 9 <div class="MsoNormal">
This week was a step forward from the rest, having taken
into account everything we have learnt in the past 8 weeks, we had to step on
our own 2 feet and try things without guidance as such. We were told to find a
space in the room and carry out our own voice warm up. Starting with stretches
I did the sun salute twice over to stretch both sides of the body evenly, I had
a few glitches having been put on the spot and forgot what stretch to do next
but I got there in the end. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moving on I began to do the lazy days exercise, starting to
focus on breathing to get it steady at a consistent pace, once I was happy
having focused on the breath and relaxing my muscles I moved on to using my
voice, starting with the ‘f’s and v’s, moving on to the hums and ‘mah’s I built
up using my voice to warm up my voice efficiently. From the lazy days I went
into the prayer position to repeat the voice warm up before crouching with my
hands on the floor to do it one final time. After that admittedly I completely
forgot what next, and as instructed afterwards, I would move on to repeat the
voice arm ups to the wall and then project out into an open space. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After the warm up, going round the group we each took in
turn to read aloud our speech to an audience for the first time given that our
‘performance’ is in 2 weeks. When I read aloud I was aware that I was speaking
too fast, to begin with that was the nerves but towards the end of the speech
particularly, it was evident that I had worked on that far less than the
beginning of the speech so I know what to focus on over the next few weeks. I
was told that I had good articulation and pronunciation and I could connect well
with the argument presented, but I needed to slow down my pace to get the point
across. Additionally, it was evident that I was less confident with the speech
as a whole and I needed to be more confident with what I was saying to be able
to look up and connect with my peers to get my argument across so learning the
script would be beneficial for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-53608532188204180082015-12-11T09:32:00.005-08:002015-12-11T09:32:09.324-08:00Week 8 <div class="MsoNormal">
This week was an interesting one for me. We worked on the
idea of portraying your point in a creative manner and being passionate about
what you’re talking about. After the usual warmups the theme for this week was ‘painting
a picture.’ We were given an extract from a poem of a ship describing it in
detail.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We took ourselves off to a corner of the room and reading line by line
we used our and the empty space in front of us to paint a picture in front of
us. This allowed us to truly feel and be a little more passionate about what
the speech was saying. We came back into the middle and read it out line by
line delivering passion. We then went back in pairs, one person shut their eyes
and the other took them around the painting using their voice to express the
passion as well as the beauty of what they originally painted before. Having come
back into the circle again, every one delivered each individual line with more clarity
as if they could see it. whilst using the correct posture and having clarity in
pronouncing the words, everybody’s facial expressions were more relaxed and
convincing as they used facial expression to further the passion in their
voices making the speech come to life and pull the listeners in. After that,
the exercise was taken further, we went back and we acted out the speech putting
ourselves into the action of it and using our voices to feel the emotion within the text further. For
me this exercise proved to be the most useful as it allowed me to feel a
different tone within each of the lines as if it was a completely different
emotion than I had envisaged before. This for me helped with the preparation of
my speech as I was able to transfer this over and feel some different tones
within my speech that I wanted to portray. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-67331421672339275822015-12-11T09:30:00.000-08:002015-12-11T09:30:19.606-08:00Week 7 <div class="MsoNormal">
Week 7 was an important lesson for me considering I struggle
to slow my pace down when talking. After doing the usual warm ups of lazy days and projecting our voice in the motions of prayer, crouching, resonating your voice to the wall and the room and then mouth warm ups we looked
into the idea of detail within speeches. After doing the usual warm ups, yoga,
lazy days, and exercising our mouth muscles we went on to picking detail out of
speech. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We started by getting into pairs and reading out parts of a
speech and at the end of every sentence, the partner who was listening had to ask
questions which the reader would answer by placing emphasis on that part of the
speech which answers the question. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After this, another exercise that helped massively was ‘drop
the bag.’ This game we all started walking around holding a bag in the ear. At the
end of every full stop, we put the bag down and swapped bags. As the game
continued, at every separate punctuation a new move was added in. for example,
commas you had to turn on the spot, semi colons you had to stand on your tip
toes before continuing. <o:p></o:p></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-77362013486824918022015-12-11T09:28:00.003-08:002015-12-11T09:28:44.747-08:00week 5 <div class="MsoNormal">
This week was working on mouth exercises, using the mouth
and tongue correctly when talking. Once thing I was intrigued by was making
yourself yawn which helped you work out the different muscles in your throat
that create different sounds. When you yawn you can feel the part of your voice
that makes it go deeper. When you raise your Adams apple up and down it changes
the pitch and tone of your voice also. We focused on the larynx and pharynx in
this lesson to study our resonance. Swallowing and moving the Adams apple that
way helps you locate your larynx, and yawning helps with the pharynx location.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had stated before
that I have a particularly high pitched voice so this lesson aided me to give
me something to help bring my voice down a tone or two to come across as more professional
and more convincing in giving my speech. Additionally we focused on the soft palette
and the jaw, producing sounds like ‘ng’ and massaging the jaw as we talk also. The
exercise that was the one most beneficial for me was one where we placed our
hands on our foreheads and hummed, we moved our hands down to our nose, then
mouth then chest and each time our hand moved down our voice dropped a pitch
and helped see that your pitch can lower so when talking you can picture where
your resonance is coming from and how to change your pitch. <o:p></o:p></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-84821640337900434292015-12-11T09:12:00.001-08:002015-12-11T09:12:50.436-08:00weeks 3 and 4<div class="MsoNormal">
For weeks 3 and 4 we were began to put a bit more focus on
our voice particularly working with the diaphragm and the breathing in the
right way. Week 3 we started to incorporate our voices into the lazy day’s
workout. We started off the lesson with a bit of yoga to stretch our muscles
and then laid on the floor. When we were comfortable with our breathe having
reached a steady rhythm of breathing in and out, we did the same motions with
our body, breathing in as we lay still and as we rolled over we started to use
our voice. For the first set we made ‘f’ sounds continuously in a vibration with
our lips and teeth. The second was a ‘v’ sound as we hummed through it. This
started to warm up the vocal cords. Third was a little louder as we hummed a ‘m’
sound and finally projecting our voice that little bit further we hummed a ‘mah’
sound. Following on from this we rolled over and repeated the voice motions in
order in the yoga prayer position as we were encouraged to feel the voice
coming from the pit of our stomachs rather than our throats. This resonates the
voice further. Finally we got up into a crouch position and as we bounced on
our toes we continued the voice motions which allowed us to project our voices
that little bit more. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Alongside working on the diaphragm, we experimented with vowel sounds using our mouth in different ways. particularly working on the articulators that helped with pronunciation and using our voice correctly. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the exercises was the ‘three suns’ which was where we
breathed in using our hands to demonstrate our breathing and this also helped
to elongate my breath which is a good exercise for me to practise in slowing
down my pace when talking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We also incorporated the idea of breath and emotion, for me
this was the most interesting as it helped with the idea of breathing and talking
on certain lines of my speech to deliver a certain effect. We walked around the
room to begin with and we used breath to deliver compliments anonymously, this
was heart-warming and it certainly lifted the mood for all students. Then we played
a game called ‘breath play’ stood opposite a partner and in a similar manner we
practised giving an imaginary gift, saying a heartfelt comment and each time
trying it with a different breath; breathing out, breathing in and simply no
breath at all! Breathing in for me was the warmest and happiest way of delivering
those, breathing out made it less heartfelt and not breathing at all portrayed
no emotion for me. This extenuated the importance of breathing at particular
parts of the speech I want to deliver! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Following on from this we incorporated facial expressions
with breathing. Standing in a circle we looked to the right of us. We pick a
compliment to say to that person in our head and we breathe the compliment to
them without saying a word. This helps facial expression delivering the emotion
also. Following on from this we say the compliment with the breath. <o:p></o:p></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-2421708945986506432015-12-11T05:07:00.002-08:002015-12-11T05:07:14.276-08:00Week 2 <div class="MsoNormal">
Today marks the first of our voice classes, today was a
simple lesson to get to know the warm ups we could use. This included ‘the lazy
days’ warmup, a granny dance, sun salute yoga workout and what I like to call
body manipulation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were welcomed into the class and were told to find a
space and lay down. Having done so we had to lay on our backs, have our legs up
and knees at a 90 degree angle so our calves are parallel to the floor. From
this position we lay on our sides and have both arms pointing out in front of
us, our knees stay apart. To do the warm up the idea is to relax the muscles in
our body and focus primarily on our breath, to do this we began to roll from
side to side, knees staying apart. We breathe in as we lay on our side and as
we roll over to our other side that is when we breathe out, the arm that was
closest to the floor draws a semi-circle above our head, the other arm runs
droopily across your chest. This allows for you to achieve a constant steady
breath and soft muscles in preparation for voice work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Moving onto the second, we did some stretching, one I am
already familiar with, this is a popular yoga stretch that is advised for every
day- the sun salute. Combining deep breaths, lunges, cobra, down dog, and
simply trying to touch your toes…(which after 5 years I still cannot do!) this
particularly helped stretch the muscles inside your body to and also afterwards
achieve a better posture to be able to use our voices effectively and without
straining. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Following on from this we did some short work on our stance
ensuring legs were shoulder width apart and grounded with the floor keeping us
balanced. Our legs were relaxed, butt tucked in, this keeps strain particularly
off of your back muscles when standing I found. Shoulders back and down which
in turn meant our chests were naturally out giving our lungs more space to
breathe without being hunched over, it clears the airways! Then you hold your
head high and this should enable you to talk standing comfortable without putting
strain on your voice. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Afterward we did the ‘body manipulation’ in which you lay on
the ground and relax all of your muscles as of you were sleeping. Then your
partner goes around your body, starting with calves, then elbows down to your
hands, shoulders and finally your neck going up to your head. They take the
limb in their hands and rub gently and relax the muscles before laying them
down. This also allowed me to focus on my breathing and especially when going
about day to day to try and relax your muscles too. <o:p></o:p></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862658293044468314.post-61898394816607145232015-10-07T07:45:00.002-07:002015-10-07T07:47:17.327-07:00Voice Analysis: First Impressions<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi there!<o:p></o:p></div>
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My name is Sophie Franklin! Welcome to my second blog! I do
have a first one, it’s dedicated primarily to books but more recently I’ve
taken a more casual approach to it uploading poems and weekly thoughts! Here,
however, I shall be uploading to aid my university work! This will become apparent
as some posts will be simple assignments and some may be dairy recordings of
what happened to aid my memory towards the end of the year when deadlines are
approaching! <o:p></o:p><br />
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For the first week we were asked to record our voice and
analyse it. Before listening to my voice, I am aware that I mostly speak fast
pace, and at times I can have a slight stutter, this becomes more predominant
if I am excited or nervous in any way as I stumble over particularly the first
few words in my sentence. Having originally come from the South East in Kent, I
have been bought up with a typical ‘Queens English’ accent being told to pronounce
words correctly and use my ‘t’s etc which many people to this day even comment
on how posh I sound. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I wanted to make this analysis accurate so rather than
sitting in a room awkwardly recording my voice not knowing what on earth to say
and being consciously aware of how I am talking, I asked permission of someone
who I was on Skype to one evening to see if they wouldn’t mind me recording the
conversation for 20 minutes so I could analyse myself accurately and honestly. This
seemed to work well because a few minutes in I had actually forgotten I was
recording myself which towards the end of the recording, I actually commented on!<o:p></o:p></div>
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So here goes…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just at the beginning of the recording I have already
noticed that I incorporate ‘um’ and ‘er’ into my speech when trying to explain
what it is I need to do, additionally I also use the word ‘oh’ and ‘like’ a lot
when explaining stories of what I have been up to. The first 2 may be linked
slightly to the minor stammer I have of not being able to process what I want
to say into saying it directly and fluently. As I was on Skype, I have noticed that
I have a relaxed tone of voice that whilst my voice is naturally high pitched
at times I did have a slightly lower tone of voice, being relaxed I also wasn’t
speaking fast pace as I thought I do. I have a typical ‘Queens English’ ‘posh’
accent but at times I skip my ‘t’s at the end of words. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This isn’t very often, but at times I have noticed that I also
like to elongate some of my vowels in the middle or at the end of words, on the
other hand I am very irregular with this because at other times I shorten my
vowels a lot and it sounds like I am between 2 accents. This may be because I had
a heavy influence from someone from Manchester over the past 2 years so I may
have some accentual aspects of the Manchurian accent in my voice. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My volume stayed the same throughout the recording more or
less, but taking into account the factors of at the time I had a cough and was
rather tired so I was able to keep control of my volume. It is important to
take those factors into account with having the result that they did because I have
noticed, particularly in the past year, people have made me aware that I sometimes
talk louder than is necessary for the time or place I am at.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I may revisit this post at a later date having analysed my
voice to a better standard from a different setting, perhaps with a group of
friends to see how I differentiate. <o:p></o:p></div>
It's been a whilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187611096949823865noreply@blogger.com0