�鶹Լ��

There are a range of vocal skills and techniques for performers to utilise when performing. Performers exaggerate the shape and sounds of words for clear enunciation, and it can be useful to observe this in a mirror, watching how the mouth moves and making sure it is opening properly.

Accents

The use of accents can be useful, eg for showing an audience, quickly and simply, that an actor has changed character when multi-roling, but being able to sustain an accent is crucial. It can be useful to listen to different accents and experiment with copying them, using key words that act as reminders of the patterns of a particular accent to help accent transitions.

Intonation

Intonation conveys different meanings and can be used to make speech sound either exciting or dull. When adding intonation, be mindful of a character’s age, their purpose and the target audience. It can be useful to read a bland text out loud, eg an instruction manual or handbook, and see if it can be made to sound exciting, dangerous or full of mystery through the use of intonation.

Emotional range

Emotional range is where a character’s emotions are represented through their voice, eg laughter, breaks in voice, uncomfortable coughs. It can be useful to read a line of text with a different emotion in mind each time, adding small emotional clues (such as those just mentioned) to express different emotions.

P is for…

A useful way to remember different vocal skills is through the four Ps.

• pitch - the height or depth of the voice
• pace - the speed at which lines are delivered
• pauses - often forgotten and particularly important for building tension
• phrasing - the inclusion of pauses and how an actor chooses to break up or emphasise certain words or phrases

Performers can experiment with the four Ps of their character’s voice to communicate different moods and situations. Some moments in a drama need a faster or slower pace than others to create specific moods. Good storytellers will use pauses of differing lengths to build interest and intrigue in the plot, rather than just for suspense. Performers should experiment with their lines and decide what should be the focus.