When you think of vocal training, your mind probably automatically conjures up thoughts of singers and voice-over actors. However, as an actor, your voice is one of the primary vehicles of delivering emotions and conveying thoughts. While your voice is not the only tool within your actors toolbox, it the most used. As an actor, you must continually undergo vocal training to help cultivate a voice that is not only pleasant to hear, but also one that can speak clearly, obtain inflections and have a solid understanding of the technicalities of everyday speaking.
Diction, Rhythm and Tempo
As you’re starting off in your vocal training, you must focus on three primary voice techniques: diction, rhythm and tempo. Diction refers to how clearly you speak your words. While your character may have an accent, or may be known to mumble, you must integrate these personality traits while still being able to speak clearly enough for the audience to understand. A good example of mumbled diction that is still easily understood is Heath Ledger’s performance in “Brokeback Mountain.” His character was known to be soft-spoken, if he spoke at all, and his accent was so unique that it was almost difficult to understand what he said – key word, almost.
Rhythm – when you speak, you are constantly talking in a rhythm. This rhythm helps set the tone for the entire conversation, as well as helping your friends understand the meaning behind what you’re saying. Even as you’re reading this article you are doing so in a rhythm that is set by punctuation marks. If, I was. To, write; sentences – with, incorrect. Punctuation you would not, clearly, understand? What! I’m, talking – about. While you don’t have physical punctuation when you speak, you should always follow punctuation rules when reading a script as the screenwriter has spent hours cultivating and fine-tuning the rhythm of speech.
Tempo – We all speak in a tempo. This tempo can be fast, like when you’re exciting or nervous, or slow – like when you’re sad, depressed or angry. Finding the correct tempo to match the emotional level of your character allows the audience to understand the character’s interior thought process while gaining a true hold of his emotional state of mind.