Project Your Voice

 

 

 

How loud is too loud?  What’s the difference between vocal clarity and shouting? These are just some of the concerns that people have.

 

 

Rest assured, I don’t think anyone can speak too loudly when up on stage in front of an audience.

So, we can all push those concerns to one side…

 

It’s true that some people naturally have louder voices than others, but I’d like to show you how to make the very best of ‘your voice’.

 

 

To all those who take exercise: would you ever go to the gym or go out for a jog without having a good stretch? I certainly wouldn’t…  and our voices are no different.

 

Think of the vocal chords like the strings of an instrument. If they are too tight, our voices are raspy, and if they are too relaxed the sound stays in our mouths. So, we need to find a happy medium.

 

Recite these lines from a poem:

 

           Breathless, we flung us on the windy hill,
           Laughed in the sun, and kissed the lovely grass.
           You said, "Through glory and ecstasy we pass;

           Sounded OK, but I think we can do a bit better.

 

           We need to warm up first!

 

 

·        Speaking Stance- relax stomach (if you hold your stomach in it causes tension in your voice)

 

·        Support the sound: by practicing the following exercises:

·        Round and round the rugged rock, the ragged rascal ran (exaggerate mouth movements)

·        Tongue Boot Camp (move your tongue around your mouth, on the outside of your teeth in circular movements. Repeat this 8 times clockwise, 8 times anti clockwise, 7 times, 6 times... and so on until 1.

 

 

·        Open Up your throat:

·        Ho Hum: say ho and then extend the hum, so that you hold it in your throat.

 

·        Chanting:

Chanting has two purposes: it opens up your throat and prepares your voice for speaking and it is also very relaxing. Whenever we breathe from our stomach, it is extremely therapeutic.

 

 E oh ah A

 

 

Now repeat the poem.

 

Breathless, we flung us on the windy hill,
            Laughed in the sun, and kissed the lovely grass.
           You said, "Through glory and ecstasy we pass;

 

Better?

If you want to fill the room with your voice and command your audience’s attention, make these     exercises a daily ritual.