Course Catalogue

LJMU Partner Taught

The foundation for strong voice /movement skills, this module is designed to explore techniques that release and expand the vocal and physical instrument and connect the inner world of the student’s imagination with external expression as either a performer or facilitator/director.

Outline Syllabus:Unit 1: Voice This unit begins with a personal assessment, through which students can free the natural voice and explore strengths and limitations. There is a segment on vocal anatomy and physiology, so students will discover how the voice works. The natural breath, sensing the physical ‘root’ of the voice, muscle power and development of flexibility and the function of the diaphragm, abdomen, and ribs, back in the areas of both release and control are explored. Support of the voice and the understanding of a centred sound in relation to bodywork is examined. The muscularity of the word and shaping the sound in relation to the breath are added to exploration of pitch, range and inflection. The Student will work on their vocal presence and energy as performer/practitioner. This phase concludes with students working pairs to design an appropriate vocal warm for a specific participant group. The work is then applied to a variety of texts, defining vowel and consonant sounds, addressing common errors of speech, verbal dynamics, sight reading, prepared readings in both verse and prose, testing diction in read and memorised texts for the purpose of specifics in articulation. Continued exercises to strengthen breath, tone and resonance in tandem with narrative and dramatic texts to test and confirm the connection between the body and the voice, language and imagery and text and structure. Unit 2: Movement The aim will be to assimilate and work towards substantiating the links between two main areas: a) Movement techniques and styles that are relevant to a range of community drama contexts. b) Physical theatre oriented and other movement methodologies that support and complement student’s acting skills. Indicative Content: Body Management and Awareness • Warm up activities, including the development of focus, concentration, flexibility, fitness, strength, stamina, use of isolations and co- ordination. • The principles of the release technique including core centring, easing patterns of habitual tension, placement/alignment and anatomical connectedness. • The use of the imagination in relation to ideo-kinesis and sensory awareness in order to enhance body management and physical expression. • The use of touch/tactile sense and weight sharing, including contact work in order to support the process of heightened kinaesthetic awareness and confident partnering. • Physical Theatre and other Movement Methodologies that Support and Complement Acting Skills. Students will develop the ability to: • Apply movement skills to physical oriented material. • Demonstrate the potential to apply movement skills to a text-based context. • Improvise and explore material within a specific task or given structure. • Compose simple movement and dance material within a given framework. Students will also develop the ability to: • Effectively use the body, space, actions and dynamic content, including tempo/rhythm in a performance context. • Be appropriately expressive through the medium of movement, including using tension states and levels of address effectively. • Use ensemble skills, including the effective use of unison and other forms of coexistence across a range of groupings in a performance setting. • To apply the skills associated with movement to solo performance

Additional Information:Module Leader is LISI PERRY (l.perry@lipa.ac.uk)