Voice and Speech for Musical Theatre: A Practical Guide

Description

Voice and Speech for Musical Theatre is the first book to combine traditional actor vocal training with musical theatre training, offering support and guidance for performers seeking to train their spoken voice specifically for singing and performing in musical theatre. Performers in musical theatre are working harder than ever. The shifting and extreme nature of the modern musical theatre repertoire requires performers capable of mastering musicianship, singing and dancing while at the same time providing convincing and clear performances as actors. Voice and Speech for Musical Theatre will help train musical theatre performers in the longer modes of voice needed to create convincing and moving performances. Ideal for the triple-threat performer, Voice and Speech for Musical Theatre features exercises for performers, tips for teachers and online video resources, allowing for a focused and outcome-oriented training of vocal techniques for musical theatre performers. Cover page Halftitle page About the Author Title page Copyright page Dedication Contents Figures Foreword I Foreword II Preface for Teachers Preface for Students Acknowledgements Introduction An overview My philosophy Video Further reading 1 Posture, Alignment and Neutral Plus Introduction Neutral plus (N+): The foundations, feet first and the body The postural changes: For speech, song and dance Further reading 2 Breath, Dance and Movement Introduction Breath management and stamina Gym breath into speech and song Dance, voice and movement Further reading 3 Building the Voice Introduction Vowels Placement of sound Building the vocal set using animals, archetypes, myths and legends Intoning the sound Vowels and their modification, in and out of fashion Further reading 4 Pitch and Tune Introduction High and low: Playing with pitch Building the pitch Chants and text in sense and nonsense Further reading 5 Articulation Introduction Articulators Bone prop and how to use it Consonants Patter speak, rap and poetry Further reading 6 Resonance Introduction Female and male resonance Accents for musicals Mimicry and impersonations Safe screaming, calling and shouting onstage Further reading Appendix 1: Sample Curriculum Appendix 2: Bibliography and Resources Index