1. GENERAL HEADING: Voice and Body Exercises
2. TITLE OF EXERCISE: "The Chair Throw"
3. GOALS: To place the breath and allow it to find its natural position;
to open the entire ribcage around the center of the body; to allow the diaphragm
to freely move in and out; to activate all muscles that support the outward
breath; to build breath capacity.
4. NUMBER OF STUDENTS: Any.
5. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES: One chair per student.
6. CLASS TIME NEEDED: 5 - 10 minutes
7. STEP-BY-STEP-DESCRIPTION:
- Stand at center and take a breath. Placing your hands on either side
of your ribcage, gently but firmly make it move in as you breathe out.
Sense but don't fight the upward swing as the air drops back in.
- Next lift a chair above your head as though you are about to throw
it. Don't strain with a weight heavier then you can handle. Keep the shoulders
as relaxed as possible. Breathe in and out regularly as you perform the
action. As you do this "lift and throw" motion notice the added
power you can now feel in the breath and muscles. Put the chair down.
Breathe again. You should instantly feel more support and power. Test
this by vocalizing on a hum or by speaking some text.
- Now breathe as you push a substantial but moveable object around the
room.
8. POINTS FOR OBSERVATION, DISCUSSION: N.A.
9. SOURCE/REFERENCE: Patsy Rodenburg's The Right to Speak, NYC:
Routledge, 1992.
10. ADDITIONAL READING: N.A.
11. VARIATIONS: N.A.