Master your voice

Good speakers have an immense power, they can convince a crowd. While success is a question of work, every good speaker aims to make the most of communication.

So why then do we not learn to work on our voice at school? If we don’t master this form of expression, how can we ever be convincing? How can we relax and be the most effective speakers and singers if at the first opportunity to speak or sing in public, our voice isn’t working 100% in our favor?

When you work on your voice and nonverbal communication, self-confidence will develop. You will learn to stop speaking too fast and will naturally rely on what your voice can do for you.

The practices that I will share with you I learned while singing at the National Superior Music and Dance Conservatory of Paris and throughout NLP trainings (Neuro Linguistic Programming). These techniques will give intensity to your voice and allow you to become aware of the "air column," allow usage of the right "resonators,” as well as the optimal body position.

Sometimes just relaxing the jaw that has clenched unnaturally due to stress or stage fright will allow you to better articulate. Yawning, once or twice, just before singing, as a way to relax, allows you to raise the natural resonators like the soft palate.

Do not slouch, straighten up in order to circulate air better and learn to master abdominal breathing.

With some tips and a bit of work on yourself you’ll find your rhythm, timbre and your way! Your objective is to have confidence in yourself!

To better control your voice, you must also develop your ear. This is something you can practice. When you hear a voice, ask yourself if it is soft, metallic, sharp, stifled, trembling, powerful, whirling, hallow, clear, musical... Put precise words on the sensations that a voice awakens in you.

Compare your voice to a musical instrument. Does it make you think of a flute, a trumpet, a piano? Is the sound full or suppressed? Is it screaming? Monotone? Little by little, you will see that paying attention to the sound of your voice has a positive impact. You will then be in a state of attentive listening.

There are many little things to learn about one’s voice. Becoming aware of this surprisingly affects your speech. Moreover, whenever I share these tips, I can see how quickly they can be effortlessly applied by those I coach.

There are also other techniques that allow you to have the upper hand in front of an audience, even if they seem cold or absent. Using non-verbal communication can help: a look, the rhythm of the voice, anchorage point... these methods are referred to as "the fundamental supports."

When one has to intervene verbally in front of an audience singing or even in a professional activity, you become the artist. In just a few seconds, all eyes will be on you, how you hold your head, your stature, attitude, movements, speed....These things along give a wealth of information about your mental state and your preparation!

Some tips:

• Enter and gaze over your audience with a calm, non-forced smile that will reassure your audience and prepare them to listen to you.
• If you have any type of music in hand or notes, calmly set them down, hurriedly doing so will make your stress worse.
• Start with what is called an "interrupt pattern" that will relax the audience. For example, if a sudden downpour begins shortly before, you can crack a small joke by looking at the ceiling "you're better here than outside!" This little bit of humor will impact the remaining time and especially the quality of attention of your audience as it humanizes you.
• Think of changing your axis, do not stand still rather offer your audience different angles of you to and breaks up monotony, energizing your audience and you!
• Use the entire harmonics palette of your voice, do away with any monotoned and flat vocals!

The voice, the look and all non-verbal language prepared ahead of time and within a few tries, you will be able to master the necessary communication tools singing and speaking in front of an audience will become a treat! On stage!

Guest Blogger - Carole Chabry
Chabry grew up in a musical environment and was classically trained in Paris. She’s since won numerous awards and has helped dozens of singers improve technique and confidence via her coaching school and website espacevocal.fr (in French).

Published on: 6 March 2017