Voice
It can be helpful when developing a voice for a character (a puppet, for example) to explore a variety of potential voices. Sometimes this involves making small adjustments to one's own voice. Consider, for example, the slight differences between Jim Henson's voice and the voice of Kermit the Frog. The following is a list of the elements of voice. Your list might be different, but the idea is to change one or two elements at a time to create a new voice. Always remember to make the voice loud enough to be heard and articulate enough to be understood (unless the point is to not be understood, of course).
Some Elements of Voice
Timbre or Tone Color/Quality (nasal, raspy, airy, etc.)
Volume (loud, soft, moderate, changing, etc.)
Pitch (high, low, moderate, fluctuating, etc.)
Tempo (fast, slow, moderate, erratic, etc.)
Mood (angry, whiney, happy, sad, etc.
Talk to the Wall
One way to get immediate feedback on your own voice is to talk to the wall. Stand within a foot of the wall and talk directly into it. Let the students practice voices this way.
Some Elements of Voice
Timbre or Tone Color/Quality (nasal, raspy, airy, etc.)
Volume (loud, soft, moderate, changing, etc.)
Pitch (high, low, moderate, fluctuating, etc.)
Tempo (fast, slow, moderate, erratic, etc.)
Mood (angry, whiney, happy, sad, etc.
Talk to the Wall
One way to get immediate feedback on your own voice is to talk to the wall. Stand within a foot of the wall and talk directly into it. Let the students practice voices this way.