Gary Genard posted a note about how to develop a good speaking voice. His advice is very similar to what I tell my students. He emphasizes breathing from the diaphragm and speaking with energy rather than shouting. Good ideas.
A good voice is only partly about your natural talent. Almost anyone can learn to relax and project to the back of the room. I tell my students, "don't yell, but push your voice to the back of the room."
You will sound better if you speak in your natural pitch range. A common suggestion is to hum - you will tend to hum at your natural pitch. Many people tend to speak at a higher or lower range than what is natural for them.
Other tips - drink plenty of water. Maintain eye contact. You should feel very little strain in your throat - good speaking feels almost effortless. Think about conversing with the audience rather than speaking to them.
No comments:
Post a Comment