| A few weeks ago at my local Toastmasters club | | | | presentation elsewhere in this blog. By speaking |
| in London, I had the privilege to see a former | | | | the words out loud your mouth gets used to |
| member get up and speak to us in an | | | | saying the words and as a result you're less likely |
| organizational capacity. I couldn't help notice how | | | | to stumble over what you're saying because your |
| resonant, rich and, in the words of my old vocal | | | | body has a physical memory. |
| coach, "fruity" his voice sounded. | | | | Do hum before you speak: By gently humming, |
| It reminded me that I should be doing more to | | | | your voice gets to go hum and down it's range |
| improve and maintain my vocal skills and range. | | | | and gets warmed up. At drama school we used |
| Imparting vocal tips and techniques a little difficult | | | | to hum a very slow version of the nursery |
| in the form of the the written word as it's a | | | | rhyme "Pop Goes The Weasel". As a quick |
| subject that has numerous aspects to it such as | | | | refresher here's the lyrics as I know them: |
| voice development, warming the voice, articulation | | | | "Half a pound of tuppenny rice, |
| exercises, stretching the vocal range and so on. | | | | Half a pound of treacle. |
| Then, of course, there's dealing dealing with | | | | That's the way the money goes, |
| individual vocal problems that need to be ironed | | | | Pop! goes the weasel". |
| out. The best way to experience vocal exercises | | | | Just go on to Wikipedia where they have |
| is in person with a vocal coach. Or if that's not | | | | alternative versions of the lyrics that you may |
| possible then perhaps on video or DVD. | | | | know. There's also a notation of the tune on |
| Why is it important to exercise the voice? Well, | | | | there for anyone unfamiliar with it. It's quite a |
| fundamentally it's because the voice for a speaker | | | | jaunty little jig, but you'll want to slow it right |
| as well as for an actor, is an important part of | | | | down when you hum your way through it. Also, |
| one's instrument. It sounds a little silly to refer to | | | | make sure you don't push yourself. Be gentle. |
| your body and voice as your instrument, but if | | | | Do use tongue twisters: Tongue twisters are a |
| you think about it as a speaker or presenter you | | | | good way to exercise your articulation muscles. |
| are using just yourself. It is your method of | | | | Here're a couple of my favourites: |
| expression. Yes, you may have a presentation or | | | | "Articulatory agilityis a desirable abilitymanipulating |
| props, but it is you that people listen to and if | | | | with dexteritythe tongue, the palate, and the lips". |
| your voice isn't clear and uses it's full range of | | | | "Red leather, yellow leather". (repeat 5 times) |
| expression then your listeners will be turned off. | | | | "The tip of the tongue, the teeth, the lips". (repeat |
| Without getting too bogged down with the | | | | 5 times) |
| science of the articulatory muscles and how the | | | | "The back of the tongue and the tip of the |
| work, I'll just quickly mention that they are as | | | | tongue". (repeat 5 times) |
| follows: the tip of the tongue, the hard palate, the | | | | These exercises need to be regularly used, daily if |
| soft palate, the back of the tongue, the teeth and | | | | at all possible as you cannot hope to feel any |
| the lips. | | | | improvement if you just do everything once. |
| Now, there are probably many professional vocal | | | | Do Make Sure you Articulate When I say this you |
| coaches out there who are ready to argue with | | | | don't have to over-articulate your words so you |
| me on these points and say that I should tell you | | | | sound like Richard Burton. What I mean is that |
| what the correct categories are, whether they | | | | you should take care not to have sloppy speech. |
| are active or passive articulators. But for the | | | | Try rehearsing your speech out loud and tape |
| purposes of this post I don't feel it's necessary. | | | | yourself. Listen to it a couple of times so you get |
| So here're some 5 Dos and Don'ts for Vocal Tips | | | | over that awful feeling of hearing your own voice. |
| : | | | | Then listen to it to make sure your words are |
| Don't consume dairy: Before you speak or | | | | clearly spoken and that you are hitting all your Ts |
| present make sure you keep your dairy intake to | | | | and Ds in your words. |
| a minimum. Dairy products have a tendency to | | | | These tips are merely scratching the surface of a |
| produce excess mucus which can make you | | | | vast and constantly fascinating subject area. |
| snort and constantly feel like you have to clear | | | | There are plenty of great books out there on the |
| your throat. Keep yourself lubricated by drinking | | | | subject. The techniques that I've been trained in |
| plenty of water or herbal tea. Too much | | | | come from past vocal coaches at The Royal |
| caffeinated tea can dehydrate you. If you're | | | | Shakespeare Company and The Royal National |
| drinking plenty of water before you speak | | | | Theatre in the U.K. |
| remember to use the loo (rest room). | | | | Try implementing these dos and don't before you |
| Do speak your words out loud: I've talked about | | | | give your next speech or presentation and you'll |
| the benefits of rehearsing your speech or | | | | see a marked improvement in your vocal clarity. |