University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Revised Nov.2002)

Code: UATPA3-40-1 Title: Specialised Vocal Development Version: 3

Level: 1 UWE credit rating: 40 ECTS credit rating: 20

Module type: Professional Practice

Owning Faculty: Faculty of Creative Arts/Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Field: Professional Acting

Faculty Committee Approval: Q & S Committee Date 7th October 2009

Valid from: Sept 2009 Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: Awards up to BA Hons in Professional Acting

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: Any Stage Management Modules

    Learning outcomes:

    On satisfactory completion of this module the student will be able to:

    Knowledge and Understanding

    • Demonstrate basic, subject specific-skills relevant to the use of voice for performance

    • Understand the importance of the voice as it applies to acting

    Intellectual Skills

    • Understand and apply the different concepts of vocal interpretation

    • Understand the creative use of the voice in performance

    Subject / Practical Skills

    • apply vocal skills and techniques to create and clearly communicate believable character, emotions, thought and narrative through the use of spoken language and to be clearly heard by the audience;

    • use the voice safely in all performance situations with and without the use of microphones;

    • demonstrate expertise in singing, musical and sight-reading skills required by actors in musical theatre productions with and without the use of microphones.

    Transferable Skills

    • Adapt to a variety of performance situations and locations.

    • Communicate effectively using the voice.

Syllabus outline:

The syllabus will cover voice production, diction, vocal support, voice in movement, vocal interpretation, accents and dialects, verse-speaking, singing and microphone technique.

Teaching and learning methods:

Students will have the opportunity to learn through group classes, individual tutorials, individual and group project work.

Reading Strategy

Students are encouraged to become familiar with the subject area, and texts specific to the module, through reading lists and reference material provided. Lists are updated annually to maintain currency and relevance. Each department holds texts and reference material, as well as the general access provided to the Schools library and access to the Internet. The specifically vocational nature of training and study, combined with the project based nature of learning on the course, may require that students are guided to reading and research material in the first instance by the module leader.

NB: BOVTS students do not have access to UWE Libraries and UWE OnLine

Indicative sources:

The primary source for this module will be Voice and Speech for the Theatre by Clifford Turner.

Students are expected to be aware of other approaches to voice training.

Background research material will be culled from plays, poetry and prose of the last four hundred years.

Suggested reading includes:

Alexander. P (ed)

The complete works of William Shakespeare, (London: Collins, 1951. 1981 [printing]).

Turner. J. C. & James C.

Voice and speech in the Theatre, (London: Pitman, 1977).

Rodenburg Patsy

Speaking Shakespeare (Palgrave Macmillan, 2004)

Berry Cicely

The Actor and the Text (Virgin, 2006)

Ricks C (Ed.)

Oxford Book of English Verse (OUP, 1999)

Kayes. G

Singing and the Actor (A&C Black 2004)

Appropriate Texts /Music.

Assessment

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Description Element weighting

1. Vocal Skills / Applied Vocal Skills 100%

Demonstration of basic competencies in speech and singing skills, and technique at three equally phased assessment points. Application and creative use of vocal skills and technique in text projects, auditions, singing projects and vocal recital.

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is required)

Description Element weighting

2. Vocal Skills / Applied Vocal Skills 100%

Demonstration of basic competencies in speech and singing skills, and technique at three equally phased assessment points. Application and creative use of vocal skills and technique in text projects, auditions, singing projects and vocal recital.

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

Back to top