Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 11/25/2007

Question
Hi, i was wondering if you could help.I am 15 and i have an examination in performing arts coming up soon. for this examination i have to do two performances and also doa portfolio of my progression throught the course. all the excersises i do to help me i have to write about in this portfolio. but i cannot find any excersises to help dictioning or resonace could you provide me with any?
Thank-you for your time.
Tahnee

Answer
Hi there, Tahnee.  Thanks for writing.  These are good questions.

For diction exercises, there are a few that I would suggest:
1.  Tongue Twisters - slowly over pronouncing them with a big open mouth and making your mouth really work the consonants of each word.
2.  Tongue Twisters - talking them as fast as you can while still over pronouncing them with a big open mouth and making the mouth really work the consonants.
3.  Stretching the mouth muscles by opening and stretching the lips without any sound.
4.  Taking the script and speaking the words very largely with a wide open mouth concentrating on pronouncing every single consonant.  Doing this slowly, then normal speed and then fast concentrating each time on very clear pronouncing of each syllable and consonant.
5.  Taping oneself and listening to the pronunciation.

Resonance
For resonance, I would recommend:
1.  Sirens starting at a low tone and focusing on belly sounds and then as the siren gets higher, moving the sound from the belly into the chest and then the highest tones into the head.  Each place the sound is, concentrating on finding a buzz feeling.  So when in the abdomen, there is a buzz and when in the chest there is a buzz and so on.

2.  I would also encourage working on breath work - deep breathing putting the breath all the way down into the abdomen and breathing using the diaphragm for support.

Does that help?

Wanda