Storytelling & Creative Expression
The human voice is the bridge between the text and the listeners imagination. It’s the readers task to ignite that imagination and draw the listener into the story using her or his voice. Most of us can read, and some of us can read exceptionally well, but how many of us (including your child) can read as though you are conversing with the audience? Yes, just taking Cinderella and transforming the entire theatre into the palace just by using the voice. To take someone else’s story and make it sound like your life-story! A method of reading that makes the listener feel as though you are speaking to them and somehow they feel like they are a part of the story.
In this course, I guide your child from simply reading a story to owning it! How? By using certain psychological methods that train the mind to make the story sound like it’s yours. These are methods I've learnt from the world of acting and drama. I will teach your child the art of how to break punctuation rules. Where and how to read right through a comma and maybe even a full-stop and where at times to pause even if there isn’t any punctuation. It's all of this and a fine balance between the colours of the voice, body-language (hand gestures, body posture, facial expressions), and equally as important, the use of the eyes. How do you look at the audience? Who do you look at? A simple head-tilt downwards or upwards with a smirk or smile looking to the side could evoke two completely different emotions from the listener. Yes, even if the listener had their eye’s closes, they’d hear it in the voice. The body influences the voice. They are inseparable.
We methodically go through our 4 step approach covering stretches, posture & alignment, and breath work using my specially designed VoIXStraw™. Remember, a good storyteller is only as good as her or his breath control and vocal resonance! We will also dive into articulation, enunciation, inflection and all the aspects of clear and persuasive speech.
Overall, this course is great for a child who wants to study the art and science of telling a story. The art of making that story their own, and delivering it with confidence.