Open Forum

Hi! I teach Theatre grades 6-8 and frankensteined together a dialect unit for my intermediate kids last year using Robert Blumenfeld's book/CD set, Accents: A Manual for Actors. The passages were a little too advanced for my kids but the examples on the CD tracks were helpful. Unfortunately, they didn't follow the practice exercises in the book very well and the pauses weren't long enough. One resource I do have is a classroom set of iPods that I could load material onto for individual practice. Anyone have any different CD and/or book recommendations that work well for a general introduction to dialect work? The usual Standard British, New York, Irish, and Southern would be great. Thanks! ------------------------------------------- Benjamin Stuart Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher Seattle Public Schools Seattle WA -------------------------------------------

Also check out the website for the IDEA: International Dialects of English Archive. Worldwide vocal samples of all genders and ages are included. The participants read samples and are often interviewed. You can download clips and create a bank of authentic samples. We use it frequently.

-------------------------------------------
Bob Ramseur
Newnan GA
-------------------------------------------



Sent via Higher Logic Mobile



Original Message:
Sent: 6/26/2014 4:19:22 PM
From: benstu@me.com
Subject: Dialect resources for beginners?

Hi! I teach Theatre grades 6-8 and frankensteined together a dialect unit for my intermediate kids last year using Robert Blumenfeld's book/CD set, Accents: A Manual for Actors. The passages were a little too advanced for my kids but the examples on the CD tracks were helpful. Unfortunately, they didn't follow the practice exercises in the book very well and the pauses weren't long enough. One resource I do have is a classroom set of iPods that I could load material onto for individual practice. Anyone have any different CD and/or book recommendations that work well for a general introduction to dialect work? The usual Standard British, New York, Irish, and Southern would be great. Thanks! ------------------------------------------- Benjamin Stuart Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher Seattle Public Schools Seattle WA -------------------------------------------

Check out www.accenthelp.com.  It's run by a professor of theatre & voice at the University of Houston (Jim Johnson).  Great text resources -- succinct but thorough -- and great audio files, all downloadable. Each package runs about $25.  A wide variety of accents to choose from as well.  I've used New York, British (Standard, Estuary, and Cockney), American Southern (Hard-R and Soft-R), and Central Plains Midwest.  

-------------------------------------------
Michelle Ludwig
Director of Drama
Kinkaid School
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-26-2014 16:19
From: Benjamin Stuart
Subject: Dialect resources for beginners?

Hi!

I teach Theatre grades 6-8 and frankensteined together a dialect unit for my intermediate kids last year using Robert Blumenfeld's book/CD set, Accents: A Manual for Actors. The passages were a little too advanced for my kids but the examples on the CD tracks were helpful. Unfortunately, they didn't follow the practice exercises in the book very well and the pauses weren't long enough. One resource I do have is a classroom set of iPods that I could load material onto for individual practice.

Anyone have any different CD and/or book recommendations that work well for a general introduction to dialect work? The usual Standard British, New York, Irish, and Southern would be great. Thanks!

-------------------------------------------
Benjamin Stuart
Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher
Seattle Public Schools
Seattle WA
-------------------------------------------