Pillars of Projection

Think about this:

Are you speaking just to say the lines or are you speaking to be heard?

Are you singing just to yourself or to the audience? If there are no microphones, how will you be heard?

Projection is the answer. It's time to speak out! It's time to sing out!

Here is how you "Push that Voice OUT!!"

Focus

Visualize your room or theater in terms of 100%, 50%, and 25%. 100% is the back wall.

Practice saying your ABC's:

-at 25% (person sitting in the front row)

-at 50% (a little farther; to half the room)

-at 100% (back of the room)

This should help your voice carry throughout the room

Connection

Before taking the stage put yourself in the mindset of what you're going to be speaking or singing about. What is the mood of the character you are playing or the song that you're singing?Focus in and channel all your thoughts and attention to that character. Imagine you are that character.

Pronunciation

Although we speak to be heard, we also want to be understood. What we need to do is stretch the muscles around the jaw and surrounding the mouth. Here is an exercise you can do to stretch these muscles. Blow up your cheeks like a balloon. Move the air around in your mouth like you are swishing mouthwash around in your mouth. This might feel a little funny but you should feel your mouth muscles stretching. Also you can move your jaw left and right; up and down to loosen even more.

Warm up

Do this simple warm up to get you going. Speak and/or sing this warm up.

Ma, meh, me, moMa, meh, me, mo, mooh

Under the hood

Like a car, your chest cavity has many parts that must operate correctly in order for you to project. Also like a car, your body needs air to breath. Remember you can only project as much as the capacity of your lungs will allow. Do this exercise. Push your shoulders back and inhale slowly all the air in the room through your mouth.

Exhale slowly and bring your shoulders back to normal position.

Repeat.

Now inhale slowly all the air in the room through your mouth while raising both your arms in the air.

Exhale slowly and bring your arms back down to your side.

Some Extras

Feel free to stretch your neck. Start by laying your head to the side and rolling down towards your chest in a circular motion from shoulder to shoulder.

Remember to breathe. This also helps with stress relief.

Shake it all out. Shake your arms and shoulders. Just shake and wiggle it all out.

As you drink water to stay hydrated, do so in small gulps to decrease burping.

Happy Singing!

Happy Acting!