Why a Voice Coach for Speaking?
As we mature into adulthood our voices become cultured and civilised, and we lose touch with our expressive natural capabilities. We hold back our ideas and feelings through anxiety, fear, cultural expectations and more. We forget the way we used to easily express our experiences and emotions as children. Over time, our voices become restrained and limited in potential.
But your voice is your greatest asset.
How you speak and how you sound impacts how people will perceive you!
While developing the perfect sounding voice and breaking long term inground habits can take a long time, for most, a beautiful sounding voice can still be obtained in a relatively short amount of time. All you need is a little guidance and some dedicated practice. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Speak Up
It's important to be heard when you speak, so don't be afraid to raise your voice (appropriate to the situation and setting). This doesn't mean you have to shout. Just open your mouth and speak clearly. Don't mumble. Look at the person or people you are speaking to.
2. Pace and Pauses
Many people speak to fast. Especially when they are nervous or in a stressful situation. If you are one of these people, take time and slow yourself down. Don't be afraid to use a pause. Pauses may feel like an eternity at the time, but guaranteed, they are just the right amount of time for your audience to absorb your content. If you speak to fast, or slow for that matter, your audience will tune out.
3. Breathe
Learn to breathe from the diaphragm. Deep breathing is essential for a rich, full, resonant voice. Many people breathe to shallow, and ineffectively, which does not give the voice the support it needs. Ultimately, this puts strain on the vocal cords and your speaking voice will sound strained, pressed or out of breath.
- When you inhale, your abdomen your expand.
- When you exhale you should feel your abdominal muscles slightly contracting to support the flow of the air.
- Try exhaling using a pressured shhhhh. You should feel your abdominal muscles contract. Relax and try this again. Keep it going in a rhythm. This is diaphragmatic breathing.
4. Diction
Speak as clearly as possible, feeling all the sounds in your mouth. Try saying "The tip of the tongue on the teeth and lips" What you are saying should be what you are feeling. This will also help to create bright, resonant and clear tone.
5. Variety of Pitch
Most people only use a small portion of their vocal range when speaking. The human voice is capable of speaking comfortably in a range of 8 - 10 notes, but most people only use 3-4 when speaking. Some people have a monotone voice which only uses 1-3 notes.
Varying your pitch when speaking can have a real impact on the quality of your speech and the impact it makes on your listeners.
Try vocal exercises to expand your range.