Lesson 9: Practicing Vocal Variety in a Radio Drama
Lesson Objective
Students will be able to use projection, diction, rate, pitch, tone, inflection and emphasis by rehearsing a radio drama.
Hook
Vocal Warmups: Invite the students to stand in a circle and follow these instructions from you:
- Inhale through the nose slowly on a count of 4.
- Exhale through the mouth while pushing the air out using your diaphragm, saying a silent “huh” sound
- Repeat 3 times.
- Inhale through the nose slowly on a count of 4.
- Exhale through the mouth while quietly making the sound “Haaaa”. Remind students to continue to relax the upper body while inhaling and exhaling.
- Repeat 3 times.
- Inhale through the nose quickly, filling the lungs to capacity as quickly as possible.
- Exhale through the mouth while projecting to the opposite side of the room the sound “Haaaa” on the breath.
- Repeat 3 times.
- Inhale quickly again, and this time on the exhale recite the phrase, “Mary had a little lamb.”
Rehearsal
Invite the students to join their casts and tell them the class period will be used to rehearse their radio dramas. Circulate the room and listen to segments of the rehearsals. Give suggestions where needed/appropriate.
Assessment
About 3 – 5 minutes before class ends ask the students to return to their seats. Ask the cast leaders to each report on the progress of their radio dramas: How ready do they feel to perform on a scale of 1 – 5 (5 being very ready).