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Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2011 11:40 AM
Now is the best time to re-visit your goals, visions, and plans. Did you accomplish what you set out to do? Are you looking for a new job or have you lost your job and not getting those interviews? What are your next steps for 2011? For some of us it could be to sign up for a yoga or computer class. It’s amazing how many online courses one can take today. So whether it’s your mind, body, or spirit take time to rejuvenate or learn something new. If you want to improve your voice skills at the job interview stage please read my recent article by clicking on: http://bit.ly/hWLAvO Job Tip: When you are in the job search mode be sure to change your voice mail to a more professional sound and not a cute message on your phone or something done by your children. Also, get your family on your side and teach them how to answer the telephone in case it may be that job interview or offer that you have been waiting for. |
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Posted on Sunday, January 23, 2011 11:46 PM
Are Your Dentures Interfering with your Presentations? Are you a professional presenter who now has dentures which have caused you specific speech difficulties, and make you feel uncomfortable doing any speaking engagements? Your dentist no doubt warned you about having to adjust to a foreign object now in your mouth; but you are in shock over the unexpected sounds that you hear. You find your confidence level spiralling downward. If you find yourself now sounding as if you have a lisp or a whistle, loss of breath power, or a tongue that seems lost in your mouth cavity; then here are three key solutions to rehabilitate your speech. Key #1 Muscles: Since your gums recede and your mouth and jaw muscles need to be exercised to regain its strength and agility, use these as a warm-up each morning. Massage your cheeks in a circular pattern both directions for 20 seconds Repeat the word "jaw" 5 times allowing your jaw to relax and drop loosely Repeat "oo-ee" 5 times allowing the lips to purse and then smile Exercise your tongue by moving it inside your mouth from ear to ear, flip it up and stretch it back, Key #2 Articulation: It takes time to get use to having this denture covering your palate, or roof, of your mouth. You must re-train your main articulator, the tongue, and the jaw muscles to do their job. You are use to feeling your tongue touch the front (alveolar ridge), mid (hard), and back (soft) areas of your palate to make your speech sounds. Since your denture is now taking up some space in your mouth, the tongue does not have to stretch as far, so you need to exercise it on the particular sounds (phonemes) of the "t-d", "f-v", "s-sh", and "l." Try these simple tongue twisters daily three times each until you feel that your tongue has finally got the message: Tiny-tot Tad tasted very little treats Fair is foul and foul is fair Sister Sue sews shirts, shorts, shoulder straps for soldiers Lillory, lallory, lollory Read aloud an article from the newspaper or online. Key #3 Breathing: Focus breathing with your diaphragm, not up in your upper chest or neck area, in order to increase your breath power. Start with the following exercises as if you are directing the air a short distance in front of you, such as across the dinner table; then increase the distance to the end of a room; and finally, project the sound into the next room. Count to 5 blowing out one imaginary birthday candle after each count Repeat: "Welcome to my home" projecting your voice to a farther distance each time Repeat aloud the opening speech of one of your presentations If you practise these key exercises then you will find that your confidence will grow and your speech will be more accurate. If you give a workout to your tongue and how the breath is flowing over the tongue, your whistling sound will only happen on the correct sounds. A few sessions with a speech coach can help you keep on track if you are a procrastinator. Getting out socially to practise speaking will boost your skills and confidence level. Be sure to check with your dentist or denturist with any further problems in case an adjustment is necessary for the sizing and fit of your dentures, which will affect your speech Stay Voice Fit, Brenda |
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Brenda: Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 12:02 AM
 When reading any text material aloud or delivering your speech, be sure to select a key word or words which you can “colour” with your voice tone or nuance. You do this by saying the word with a different inflection to cause interest or intrigue, so that it is emphasized in alluring the listener to your story or message. Practise this tip by reading aloud a newspaper, magazine article, or a children’s storybook. Voice Power Quick Tip: Try to say the word "yes" 8 different ways so the tone suggests what meaning is behind it. Switch to "no" and repeat the same exercise. You will soon get the idea of how to flex your voice to add variety and special meaning. Have you experienced changing your vocal tone during a presentation, acting, or voice over session by simply tweaking one word to make the entire thing work? Let us know. |
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Posted on Thursday, January 13, 2011 1:11 PM
 Travelling is interesting for interacting with many different cultures and people; or if you stay at home you have the opportunity to meet fascinating visitors to your area. Soon, you begin to share some mutual stories about fishing, camping, travelling, sites you’ve visited, or how to cook the best burger, or where the best restaurants are. Sometimes I try to guess if I can spot the correct region of where someone is from. So far this past year, I’ve guessed correctly on people from New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, Texas, Newfoundland, Chicago, Italy, and Russia; but missed one from Wales (thought it was Scotland). English is one of the hardest languages to learn; yet there are so many cultures who you hear speak English very well. Never let someone with an accent stop you from speaking or listening to them, diversity can be a real benefit to your life.Have you had any interesting ventures that included communications over one’s voice accent? Voice Power Tip:To eliminate a nasal twang from your speech tone -practice by pinching your nose slightly while saying “low” 5 times, so the sound exits your mouth in a low tone and not through your nose. Repeat this throughout the day, then do it without pinching your nose ,but through conscious focus to direct the sound out of your mouth. |
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Brenda: Posted on Saturday, January 08, 2011 12:58 PM
 How long does it usually take to achieve a significant improvement in voice quality and keep it?This is a question that was asked to me, so I thought I would post my answer for anyone else who may want to know. Of course, the first answer is that it will depend on how much improvement is needed or wanted to begin with. If it is something that requires focussing on applying your breath support from the diaphragm, that can change the same day you begin to use it, and you can maintain that forever if you consciously apply it. This is similar to other problems of mumbling or speaking too quickly. However, if a person has a nasal tone for example, originating from childhood, this is a habit that has to be re-trained so it will take longer to replace the former tone- an average of three months will usually make it ingrained as the new habit. If the person has an actual physical or medical cause for the voice or speech sounds then a medical professional specializing in that, a speech pathologist would need to be consulted. Next, a speech coach can work with that person. The quality of sound and tone can have different applications whether it is speaking with a microphone or speaking live, in front of small or large groups. The quality of tone can also be perceived differently by a number of people – what you or I might think is a great tone, someone else may prefer something fuller, softer, lower, etc. The key to all of the above is to do a good initial assessment of the person wanting to improve and then address those issues effectively. The quick answer is that improving the sound of the voice can be achieved by applying targeted vocal exercises, and keeping the voice fit and healthy, and using warm-ups regularly. This can be maintained over your lifetime. Do you have a question? |
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