Voice Diction Workshop More Than "Stupid Superstition"

The workshop was held in the auditorium

BNN staffers did a lot more than sit in on a special voice and diction workshop on March 22 that was organized by Ms. Pryor.

In fact, they hardly sat at all under the high energy direction of theatre professor Ursula Robinson.

The second floor resonated with "aahs," "oohs," "heys," and "red leather, yellow leather" chants.  "Stupid superstition" was not one of the voice warm-up exercises used this day, but it is on the handout Robinson left with the student, as is "tie twine to three tree twigs."

Robinson has taught at SC State since 1999

Professor Robinson, along with being director of SC State's drama program, is an actor, comedian, playwright and voice-over specialist who has also worked in radio.

"Your voice is your commodity," she impressed upon the broadcast students. "Learn how to take care of what's going to make you famous."

She told the students to think more about what they are putting in their bodies. "Smoking and (too much) fried chicken eating" should be avoided, she said.

Students definitely had to put their phones away!

Robinson had the BNN students doing a number of articulation exercises. She stressed how spending some time before live or recorded voice delivery with warm-up drills can physically prepare the voice and can also calm nerves.

"The key here is not speed, but rather clear diction," she notes on one of her handouts.

"Real rock wall, real walk wall, real walk wall," is another cadence to practice from her list.

Robinson packed a lot of exercises into her 30 minute session

"My voice is my ticket," Robinson said, again emphasizing not to take for granted the ability to speak clearly and with appropriate emphasis when desired in broadcast work.

The students seemed to get the message and many eagerly engaged in the exercises.

Monique Daniel projects under Robinson's watchful eye

BNN anchor and reporter Monique Daniel volunteered for some special one on one coaching.

Robinson had her work on, among other drills, projecting her voice to the back wall of the auditorium and then to a few feet in front of her.

Project to the wall, Robinson instructed

The brief but busy and interactive workshop was thought-provoking. If your voice is how these students hope to make their living, they need to think more about taking care of their "pipes" so they don't get rusty and worn out.

This is not, repeat after me three times: Stupid Superstition.