Understanding Marilyn Monroe's Iconic Voice

Introduction to Marilyn Monroe's Voice

• Marilyn Monroe's voice is iconic, known for its breathy, sultry, and soft qualities.
• This lecture/presentation aims to analyze and practice the characteristics of her voice to achieve a similar sound.

Key Characteristics of Marilyn Monroe's Voice

1. Breathiness

• Definition: Characterized by a soft and intimate quality, almost akin to sighing.
• Effect: Adds a seductive and vulnerable charm.
• Exercise: Use of breathy 'H' sounds (e.g., "hello" pronounced as "h-ello"). Incorporate gentle breathiness in speech.

2. Pitch and Intonation

• Features: Not particularly high-pitched but fluctuates melodically, often with upward inflections.
• Speech Area: Higher in the throat, adding to femininity.
• Exercises:
  • Melodic Reading: Exaggerate melodic contours.
  • Pitch Glides: Use vowels like "o" or "a" to practice pitch variation.

3. Vocal Quality

• Characteristics: Smooth, velvety, rich, and warm tones.
• Exercise:
  • Humming Exercise: Feel resonance in throat/chest and transition smoothly to speaking.

4. Pauses and Pacing

• Nature: Unhurried and deliberate speech, with well-timed pauses.
• Exercises:
  • Controlled Speech Practice: Record and focus on pacing.
  • Paced Reading: Use a rhythmic tapping to regulate reading speed.

5. Articulation

• Style: Clear enunciation with relaxed articulation and elongated vowels.
• Exercises:
  • Consonant Softening: Use words like "feather," "whisper" for gentle consonant articulation.
  • Vocal Elongation: Stretch vowels, e.g., "love" to "loooove."

Practical Application

• Practice sentences from Marilyn Monroe movies to apply learned techniques.
• Focus on breathiness, pitch variation, smoothness, pacing, and articulation.

Conclusion

• Achieving a voice like Marilyn's involves consistent practice of these characteristics.
• Exercises can be incorporated into daily life, and the aim is to get inspired, not imitate.
• Consistency and practice are essential for voice development.

Call to Action

• Encourage continued practice and engagement with the content.
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This summary captures the key points and exercises discussed in the analysis and practice of Marilyn Monroe's voice characteristics.