throat cancer

my monologue

My monologue is about the Johnston airplane crash. She has to address the families of the deceased and try and explain how the plane crashed and try and make them feel better. In trying to do this she fails miserably and ends up making things worse. The character is American so I have to do an American accent. In my monologue I have to go from speaking really fast then slow again, I have to do this so the jokes in the monologue work, if I don’t the comedic monologue would be very depressing. It is not the aim of the actor performing this to make it depressing.  

American Accent

My monologue is performed in an American accent I have researched how to do a believable American accent.

I found that the American R is like a vowel, it does not touch anywhere in the mouth unlike the Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Greek and many other languages because the R is commonly a consonant this is because it touches behind the teeth. The American pronounces their Like the French R and the German R it is produced deep in the throat.

An exercise on how to do this is simple:

1.       Hold your hand out in front of you, with your palm up, like you are holding a tray on it.

2.       Slightly drop your hand down, and say ah, (like you want the doctor to see your throat.)

3.       Curl your fingers up slightly, and say [R]. Your tongue should be in about the same position as your hand.

Intention	Spelling	Pronunciation
Positive	I can do it.	[I k'n do it.
Negative	I can't do it.	I kæn(t) do it.
Extra Positive	I can do it.	I kææn do it.
Extra Negative	I can't do it.	I kænt do it.

The [ae] sound is a common sound in America; [ae] is very distinctive to the ear that is why it is important to make the [ae] sound when there is an [a] As its phonetic symbol indicates, [æ] is a combination of [a] + [e]. To pronounce it, drop your jaw down as if you were going to say [a]; then from that position, try to say eh. The final sound is not two separate vowels, but rather the end result of the combination. It is very close to the sound that a goat makes: ma-a-a-ah!

The Anatomy of the vocal system is very complicated and essential for an actor or singers career. There are many ways for the vocal system to get damaged:

The vocal cords are easy to get injured.

·         Forceful singing, yelling, screaming, loud talking can cause the vocal cords to hit very hard and result in injury to the cords (these are forms of vocal abuse)

·         Excessive amounts of phonating (singing/talking) can also lead to injury (vocal overuse)

·         Nodules, polyps, laryngitis and hemorrhage of the cords are possible effects of such vocal abuse

·         Smoking also has dramatic effects on the larynx.

The larynx is the formal name for the voice box (also, some call it the “Adam’s Apple”). The larynx contains the vocal cords (also known as vocal folds).

Vocal overuse can have the same effects as vocal abuse by the general “wear and tear” of the vocal cords.Singing for too long can especially occur during long rehearsals like choral festivals. Talking for too long (cell phones!, sleepovers, reunions, etc.); low-pitched talking can be especially detrimental and Habitual throat clearing is not good for you as it will lead to an injury.

You can get Cancer in the throat and it will damage your vocal system. Fortunately, cancer of the larynx is not dependent on vocal overuse or abuse However, smoking presents a very real danger to singers.

The voice is a powerful acting tool.
But the power is lost if an actor
mumbles their lines, can’t be heard,
or speaks in a monotone.

We had different warm ups to give the rest of the class one of these was how to warm your voice up properly and different techniques.
One of the ways to prepare your voice is to Make as wide a face as possible (wide open mouth, wide eyes). Then scrunch as tightly as possible. It is best to do this four times for the exercise to take effect.

·         Yawn on a descending scale.

·         Chew imaginary bubblegum.

·         Stick the tongue all the way out, the
tip pointing down.

·         Stick the tongue all the way out, the
tip pointing up. (do this to the left and right)

·         Make as big a circle as possible with
the tongue.

Breathing Exercises

When you’re in control of your breathing, you can control your voice much better. In order to do this you must do these exercises:

·         Inhale through the nose on a six count then exhale slowly with a closed mouth. Repeat four times.

·         Inhale through the nose on a six count then exhale slowly with an open mouth. Repeat four times.

·         Inhale through the nose on a six count then exhale slowly on a hum. Repeat four times.

·         Inhale through the nose on a six count then exhale slowly on a hum into an “Ahhhhhh.” Repeat four tmes.

You must do these exercises all the time on a regular base.

How to strengthen the lips:

Packing pickles poses problems.

Pass the pens and pencils please.

The stupid spider disappeared into the upturned barrel.

You loose too many shoes.

I bought a book about a boy who became a prince.

Apparently the representative is appealing for support.

The apples appear to be dropping haphazardly.

Wendy watched the weasel walking.

Do go through and look at Sue.

Wild winds and wet weather.

How to strengthen The Soft Palate and Back of Tongue:

I got wet while I was out.

Take a tube to Tewksbury.

Leave the lazy lion alone.

The butler stopped to eat a toffee.

Quick, catch and kick the ball.

If you delay longer we’re likely to be late.

The dull light from the candle burned slowly in the lamp.

The lorry was filled with bullion valued at three million.

He didn’t want to admit that the leader was right.

It’s terribly difficult to enunciate a lot of ‘t’s.’

The Soft Palate and Back of Tongue»»

I’m pulling a long length of string.

More wagons making mud.

Imagine mending the old thing.

In the spring the birds are singing and the donkeys braying.

He was greedily grabbing the gravy.

Imagine mending the old thing.

I’m making threatening noises.

Can you be carrying the carrots from the garden?

He’s getting the grey gold clubs.

I’m thinking of singing moving song.