Voice and Diction Syllabus

Voice and Diction

Office- Presser 421

Office Hours- M/T/Th- 4-5 p.m.
http://dianehoward.com/Spring_2010_Performance_Studies_Calendar.htm

Appointments Available- dhoward@umhb.edu

Text- Speaking Skillfully and Successfully: A Guide to Diction and Voice-Over Excellence
by Dr. Diane Howard and Lainie Frasier (McGraw-Hill)

Dr. Howard's Voice Bank

Course Schedule- By Class Meetings, Specific Criteria on LMS (My Campus) & In Class

First Class Meeting- Introduction to Communication & Media Studies Dept., Performance Studies,
Course, and Participants
Owning Your Own Voice, Healing Your Voice (Chapter One)
Mastering Language, Expanding Your Voice (Chapter Two) Vocal Variety in Telling Children's Stories
Refining Your Voice, Releasing Other Voices, Narrative and Character Voices, (Chapter Two) Quiz
Developing Standard American Speech for Cameras and Platforms (Chapter Three) Test
Working with Elevated American Speech for Stage (Chapter Four)
Working with the Standard British Dialect, (Chapter Four, Five)
Working with European Dialects- Cockney, Irish, Scottish, Russian, Yiddish, German, Dutch, French (Chapter Five)
Mid-Term Exam
Working with Voice in Performance Frames (Chapter Six)
Working with Character Voices, Especially for Radio & Voice-Over Work (Chap. Seven)
Working with Color and Attitude in Voice-Over Performances (Chapter Eight)
Working with Narrations for Industrial Voice-Over (Chapter Nine)
Preparing, Rehearsing to Perform for Television
Final Presentation- Performing Poetry for Television

Final Project- Performance of Poetry for Austin Poetry Channel

Dialect Audio Samples & Notes

Objectives & Responsibilities-

Students will read from the required text and will be prepared for class discussions and activities.
Students will work on vocal problems and demonstrate having overcome these problems.
Students will speak effectively and correctly with Standard American English.
Students will prepare dialect readings.
Students will rehearse dialect readings and will effectively perform standard British, Cockney, Irish, Scottish, and Russian, German, Dutch, and French dialects.
Students will rehearse and effectively deliver a range of copy for commercials, promos, public service announcements, disclaimers, audio books, and narrations.

Student Learning Outcomes-

Students will demonstrate having overcome vocal problems.
Students will speak effectively and correctly with Standard American English.
Students will skillfully perform dialect readings.
Students will effectively deliver a range of copy for commercials, promos, public service announcements, disclaimers, audio books, and narrations.
Students will skillfully perform literature readings and poetry delivery.

Mission Statement- In alignment with the university's mission statement, the goal of this course is to train speech performance leaders, who can skillfully exercise faith-based discernment and service in a global society.

Grading- One fourth of the final grade is based on the following: class participation, academic integrity, activities, and assignments. One fourth of the final grade is based on quiz and examination grades. One half of the final grade is based on vocal performances. Specific Criteria on LMS (My Campus) & In Class

Appropriate Dress: Modest Clothing, no hats or flip-flop shoes

Teaching Philosophy- See http://www.dianehoward.com/phil.prac.contrib.htm

Student Policies- This class will adhere to student standards as set forth in the UMHB Student Handbook.

Academic Integrity- Students will produce their own work and will not plagiarize.

Accommodations are to be made for students will disabilities as guided by the campus testing and counseling office.

Extra Credit for Special Event Participation:
Students can receive extra credit for participation in events from the following categories.
They are personal marketing workshops, laboratory performances,
productions (on or off campus), and/or Humanities programs/events (see calendar).