Welcome to Dramatic Speech Quarter 2! (Do you need to go back to Quarter 1?)

Day 46

1. We’re continuing our work on Australian accents! Watch the video about the D sound.
2. Try reading one of your monologues in an Australian accent. We’re not recording today yet.

Day 47

1. Watch the video “How to Pronounce Numbers and Dates in Australia.”
2. Then watch “The SCHWA Sound.”

Day 48

1. Watch “How to Tell if Someone is from Australia or New Zealand.”
2. Choose a monologue, it can be one you have previously used or a new one, and practice reading it in an Australian accent. Go over it at least 3 times.

Day 49

1. Record your monologue in an Australian accent.

Day 50

1. Watch the stagecraft video about the 3 point technique. Can this help you in your performances?

Day 51

1. Watch the video about solo improv exercises.

Day 52

1. Today, learn the Transantlantic Accent!

Day 53

1. Watch another video about the Transantlantic Accent. Take some time and try copying the sounds you hear.

Day 54
1. Watch the video about “Elevated Standard” (another name for the transatlantic or mid-Atlantic accent).
2. Using these constructed accents have several benefits for actors.

• Clear Articulation: The accent is constructed with the most easily intelligible parts of American and British English. This makes it easier to understand what is being said, a big plus for stage or screen. (Especially for early recording equipment, which couldn’t always capture low, indistinct speech well.)
• Better Sound Projection: Again, the dialect was constructed to move sound production into the parts of the mouth that encouraged projection.
• Class and Sophistication: The touch of ‘Britishisms’ made the accent sound more sophisticated than a general American accent.
• Professional Credibility: Since the accent was exclusively learned, using it signaled that an actor had professional training.

3. For Americans, the Transatlantic Accent involves softening “R” sounds and strengthening “L” and “T” sounds. Vowels may be slightly more rounded. Listen to the following clips to hear the accent being used.

• Katherine Hepburn was Famous for her Transatlantic Accent
• Will the real Martian Please Stand Up
• Singin in the Rain diction coach
• His Girl Friday/A Better Offer

Day 55

1. Read “How to Do a Transatlantic Accent Like a Classic Movie Star“.
2. Practice some sentences in Transatlantic accent. (You can stop when she gets to her explanation at the end.)

Day 56

1. Do some more Transatlantic Accent practice. (Stop at the end of the tutorial.)

Day 57

1. Here’s a ‘news reporter’ monologue for you to practice your Transatlantic accent.

Good evening. This is your correspondent, reporting live, and I’m afraid the news tonight is grave. Shortly after noon today, a cat — a rather large cat, by the name of Reginald — climbed into the tall oak on Barrington Avenue, clear up past the rooftops, and there, dear listener, he has remained. Rescue crews arrived soon after. They cannot coax him down. They have tried treats. They have tried flattery. Reginald remains cool, aloof, and entirely unmoved.
Eyewitnesses report the animal appears “perfectly calm, and frankly, rather smug.” One firefighter, aghast, admits the whole crew has been hoodwinked by a creature who will not budge before the moon comes up. The mayor has advised all citizens to remain composed. Reginald has issued no statement at all. As of this broadcast, the standoff continues. A basket of food is being floated up by balloon. We can only wait.
That is the news. Chin up. Carry on. Back to you.

2. Practice your monologue at least three times. Then you can record it!

Day 58

1. Watch “From Awkward to Amazing” for more solo improv practice tips. (I know you’ve seen some of these before, but go ahead and do them again!)

Day 59

1. Watch the video “How to Create 100 Distinctly Different Voices.” Try doing at least 5!

Day 60

1. Today watch “How to Stop Mumbling and Speak Clearly.” What can you take from this video?

Day 61

1. Watch the video about strengthening your “R” sounds and practice the techniques.

Day 62

1. Try the articulation warm up. Does it help you speak more clearly?

Day 63

1. Watch the video about developing original character voices.

Day 64

1. We’re starting a new accent today: Cockney! Watch the video about an actor learning a Cockney accent in 6 hours. Try out the sounds yourself.

Day 65

1. Watch the video “Learn to Imitate a Cockney LONDON Accent *fast*.”

Day 66

1. Watch “Learn a Modern London Cockney Accent With Marvel’s ‘Moonknight‘”. Give it a go!

Day 67

1. Watch the Cockney “Accent Quickie.”
2. Optional bonus learning: IT Crowd Season 3 Episode 2: “Are We Not Men?” It’s currently on Amazon Prime if the link doesn’t work. Practice copying the Cockney.

Day 68

1. Watch the video “Learn the English Cockney Accent with Alfie Simmons.”

Day 69

1. Watch this segment from “My Fair Lady.” Practice switching between Cockney and RP!
2. Here’s a second clip. It has a variety of English accents but the main contrast is between RP and Cockney. Of course, Audrey Hepburn was not a native Cockney speaker, and sometimes you can hear her slip. (For example, when she says “Cap’tin” at the very end of the clip, instead of “Cap’n.”)

Day 70

1. Watch “Learn English with Adele.” Look out for switches between Cockney and RP!

Day 71

1. Choose one of the monologues you have used before (OR use this Cockney section from “My Fair Lady”) and record it in Cockney.

Home? What do you want to go home for? Eliza should be along in a few minutes. She ought to be good for half a crown for her father what loves her. What’s half a crown
after all I give her? I gave her everything. I give her the greatest gift any human being can give to another; life! I introduced her to this here planet, I did, with all it’s wonders
and marvels. This loverly world with the sun that shines, and the moon that glows, Hyde Park to walk through on a fine Spring night. The whole ruddy city of London to
roam about in sellin’ her bloomin’ flowers. I give her all that, and then I disappears and leaves her on her own to enjoy it.

Day 72

1. Watch the video about making bold choices in improv.
2. Watch “Whose Line: Foreign Film Dub.” Which choices did the actors make that gave other people in the scene something to work with?
3. Now watch “Whose Line: Sound Effects.” What did you notice the actors do to help each other move the scene forward and give each other new ideas?

Day 73

1. Watch about the “Here’s the Thing” trick for improv.
2. Watch “Whose Line: Scenes from a Hat.” What do the players do to create a scene in one line? How do they use callbacks to heighten the comedy?
3. Watch “Whose Line: Let’s Make a Date.” What choices did the players make that comedically gave clues to their identity?

Day 74

1. Today watch “The Rules of Improvisation.”
2. Watch “Whose Line: Party Quirks.” Sometimes a scene can be very short, especially if the players have already made the biggest choices for their characters. Why drag it out? You can see that in the “close enough” calls for the guesses at the end.
3. Sometimes, your scene partner isn’t giving you much to work with. There’s not much you can do about that, but you can change what you do to keep the scene moving forward! For an example, watch, “Whose Line: Sound Effect (Batman).”

Day 75

1. Watch some “Whose Line” on YouTube. Your choice!

Day 76

1. Watch the video about the Scottish accent (GLASGOW). Repeat all of the practice sentences! Were you able to figure out how to make the “tapped” R?

Day 77

1. Watch the Scottish “accent quickie” video.
2. Also watch the short video about the “tapped r”.

Day 78

1. Watch “Mastering the Scottish Accent for D&D Characters.”
2. Watch “Gerard Butler Teaches You Scottish Slang.” This is just fun!
3. Watch “How to Actually Roll Your R’s.”

Day 79

1. Watch “Best Scottish Slang and Phrases.”
2. Watch “Scottish Air Traffic Control.” Can you understand what they’re saying?

Day 80

1. Do the Scottish Accent Listening Challenge with James McAvoy. Each phrase is spoken 3 times: once at full speed, once slowed down, and once with subtitles. This is a great opportunity to copy the repeated sentences.
2. Then do the “Scottish Accent Listening Challenge” with Ewan McGregor.

Day 81

1. Today watch “Basic Scots Words for When You Visit Scotland.” Try and copy the practice words!