This exercise helps you find the transitions and the thought shifts in a monologue. When working with a new monologue (or song) this exercise helps you slow down, understand what you are talking about and what you want (or your objective) in the monologue (or song). Each time a thought shifts, you change seats. It is important to slow down and be fully seated before beginning a new thought. This exercise is quick and simple; it can be done with a partner as your other, or alone for character study work.

Rena Cook says, “Optimum pitch is the pitch or note around which your voice is the most clear, efficient and carries the best”. Optimum pitch is important because it allows you to project in a healthy, loud and clear way without straining your voice. This exercise is quick and simple, all you need is a pringles can!

T’ai Chi with dowel rods is an exercise that gets breath flowing, and starts resonance, gets vibrations going and extends your vocal range. This exercise is a quick and simple way to get your voice and even body warmed up before you sing, practice or perform.

Do you ever feel like you cannot take a deep breath? Rena Cook says, “the inhale takes care of itself when the exhale is sufficient”. The recoil breath helps your abdominals to pop out while the breath goes through your center. The trampoline breath is another way to get your abdominal muscles warmed up to take deep breaths.

Rena Cook says, “Breath is crucial to the free and released voice”. These two exercises with the straw and balloon are quick and simple ways which allow you to feel how your center moves naturally when you are deep breathing.

Do you ever feel like your breath work with a deep central breath does not translate to when you stand up to act or perform? Never fear! Rena Cook to the rescue once again! Doing your monologue while standing up against a wall your muscles will remember what it's like to be laying flat on the ground with a deep, connected diaphragm breath.

Take a moment to reflect on your vocal quality when moving? Do you ever feel like you cannot take a deep breath? Maybe you get tired quickly? This exercise gives you a grounded and centered feeling. It is a quick and simple way to ground your sound and breath. Getting your entire body moving with your arms and legs gives your sound direction. Give it a try! It may seem silly, but it is a great way to help warm up!

Tension in our entire body all stays in our feet. A lot of the time we are not fully grounded due to all the tension in our body settling at our feet. This exercise is a good way to release the tension and you feel a huge difference in your standing position and grounding!