Voice

LegacyUser

How can you improve your own voice? I know there's a drama group on boards, but that would not be for me.

My voice has always been a bit useless. This was very much in evidence a while ago when I was out in a pub with a friend. Admittedly pubs are not my favourite environment, but this one did not have music blaring and there was reasonable space between the tables, nor was it particularly busy. That said, I frequently had to repeat myself and this pattern continued when we left the pub, with my friend often saying 'you what?' Family often comment as well, but I don't believe I mumble - my voice is just a bit useless. In the pub I tried not to let my throat become dry as I thought this would help, evidently not. Anxiety tends to play a part in these situations as I'm prone to a fair bit of it. Is there any way of improving your own voice because I don't want to start TALKING LIKE THIS..

Breathing, practice, practice, practice in front of the mirror?

LadyJ

Elecution lessons maybe. Singing lessons and the vocal exercises that they teach you can help you pronounce things better also but it may not be for everyone.

puglover

LadyJ wrote: »

Elecution lessons maybe. Singing lessons and the vocal exercises that they teach you can help you pronounce things better also but it may not be for everyone.

I doubt elecution is the problem. I went to speech and drama classes all throughout school and while I have perfect diction my voice is crap too (5'2" and no voice = never get served at a bar ).

I'm not so puched that I want to do anything about it myself but I would imagine vocal lessons might help with projecting your voice.

LegacyUser

Thanks for your posts.

Hmm, elocution lessons came to mind, yeah, but how do you know when they might apply? Going by the examples I gave before, and also sometimes saying 'hello' back to someone gets reduced a whimper or ...even though mentally I want to say it clearly. Even saying thank you to a shop assistant can become dampened which is a bit embarrassing.

The irony is I can stand up and do a presentation (once I'm prepared, etc) without a great degree of fuss, though I've not had to do one in about 4 years. It's the one-to-one stuff or small groups is what I'm a bit crap at. I drink plenty of water, but even so..

LegacyUser

Hey OP, can you make yourself heard when people ask you to say something again? If so, maybe its psychological? Have you any self esteem issues that could be the cause of this? I've a friend who was very quiet and depressed, but after some counselling really came out of herself.

I'm the same
I think it might be cos my family and best friends are all so loud i'm compensating
I think you just have to make a conscious effort to speak out from your stomach every time... I just don't realise half the time how quiet im being

I think it's everyone else that's just deaf

Livee

hi, you can contact me privately/off line, I can offer you advice - it's my profession - I'm a voice coach and often work with people with your concerns.

Olivia

LegacyUser

Thanks again. Heh, I'm convinced everyone is deaf..I've a sibling who is often very loud and doesn't seem to realise it most of the time.

Self-esteem issues? Certainly, without a doubt - my self-esteem is terribly low.
I can't always make myself heard if I'm asked to repeat myself, it can take 2, 3, 4.. attempts. Not always, but that's how it can go. I've had a fair amount of counselling and therapy for mental health and related issues - my ability to communicate (or not) was a topic of discussion at times. I'd like to address the issue somehow, but at the same time I don't want to change too much so that people treat don't me differently, like the whole 'omg, you lost weight', type routine..

Livee wrote: »

hi, you can contact me privately/off line, I can offer you advice - it's my profession - I'm a voice coach and often work with people with your concerns.

Olivia

No thank you.

pwd

If you want to practice then record yourself.
Mirror shows what you look like not what you sound like.
You could also think of people who are good at talking and listen to how they do it.

LegacyUser

Hey just to say I'm often find myself in a simialr situation to your OP.

The annoying thing is I often end up over compensating when reapeating something so I end up nearly shouting it.
I also have trouble hearing people tbh, its not so much that I am hard of hearing i just have trouble making out the different words or separating someones voice from the backround noise.

Irishcrx

Maybe take a few lessons at just adding power to your voice, changing your tone etc. I know a guy who is very softly spoken when you speak him, sometimes he mumbles etc but he sings/screams in a band and when you see him live he has amazing power in his voice..so it is there in everyone.

metaoblivia

OP, I understand where you're coming from. Growing up, I spoke very softly and people were always asking me to repeat myself, to speak up, etc. I hated giving speeches with a passion; I was so bad at it. No one could understand me. It was partly to do with self esteem and partly to do with a speech impediment I had as a child. I had to go to speech therapy throughout primary school and although I eventually overcame it and corrected my impediment, I was very ashamed of it and to this day a part of me still is.

When I was 15, I joined the school choir and started taking private vocal lessons - not to learn to project or anything, just because I really enjoyed singing and wanted to excel at it. It taught me how to use my voice and how to project without screaming. It also gave me some self esteem as turned out to be something of a decent singer.

Here are a few tips I learned along the way:
Breathing is key. Think of your lungs as a power generator. The force produced depends on how much air you can hold (deep breathing) and the strength of the muscles used to exhale that air.

If you're looking to build power in your voice, this is where you need to work. Sometimes people think that power comes from the vocal chords. That's not true. The vocal chords merely serve as the vibrating structure where the sound and tone of your voice begins to take shape (and it modifies in the "resonance chamber": the upper throat, mouth and nose).

So focus instead on learning to breathe deeply - expand the ribcage, fill up your entire with air until it can't hold anymore and then release it slowly and with control. This will help build your air capacity and a controlled release will help build your muscles. When you speak, try to make sure that you're got a lot of breath support - a lot of air to back you up. And don't be afraid to be heard!