Chabot College Fall 2002
Course Outline for Theater Arts 25
FUNDAMENTALS OF STAGE SPEECH
Catalog Description:
25 - Fundamentals of Stage Speech 3 units
Theory and practice of speech improvement for acting with emphasis on development of the voice, articulation and pronunciation for theater production. Covers speeches and oral traditions from 1600 to the present. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills: None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. demonstrate effective breathing in vocalization;
2. demonstrate clarity in tones;
3. demonstrate voice projection and volume control as well as pitch and rate control;
4. demonstrate articulation, variety on vocal ability, and interpretation;
5. recognize and identify standard American speech sounds;
6. improvise;
7. identify period speech.
Course Content:
1. Breathing for effective vocalization
2. Production of clear tones
3. Voice projection and volume control
4. Pitch and rate control
5. Articulation
6. Vocal variety, interpretation
7. Study of standard American speech sounds
8. Improvisation
9. Period speech
Methods of Presentation:
1. Lecture
2. Demonstration
3. Use of slides, film, and records
4. Tape recorder work
5. Exercise and practice in specific techniques
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Sonnet scansion--written
b. Prose and poetry selections for presentations including explication and summary of texts
c. Memorization of vocal production terminology
d. Responding to other students' presentations
e. Variety of interpretative choices for one given poem
f. Notation of standard American speech sounds
g. Review of various "schools" of vocal production
h. Analysis of famous speeches in history
Chabot College
Course Outline for Theater Arts 25, Page 2
Fall 2002
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Homework
b. Class projects
c. Class participation
d. Quizzes and/or final exam - vocabulary
e. Individual and group presentations
Textbook(s) Typical:
Voice and the ActorUse and Training of the Human Voice, Barry Lessoc, 1994
Special Student Materials:
None
KC:kh Theater Arts 25
Revised: 9/5/01 by Rachel LePell