FINDING A COACH
Question: I'm a 20 year old man, and as I've grown older I've noticed that my voice is nasaly and feminine. I feel like I always sound like I'm whining, and when I speak loudly it's even worse. Now that I'm getting older, I would like to sound more professional. I was wondering if there was anyting that can be done about it. I'm willing to pay a professional voice coach to change this, but I dont know where I can get one. Is there anything that you could suggest to me to do?
Answer:
1) Google voice coach or speech therapist with your postal code following and see who comes up in your area.
2) You could ask your local ENT doctor if he/she can recommend a speech therapist -- they often work together.
3) You can search on line for audio products to work with.
4) You can schedule sessions over the phone or using video-conferencing (such as skype) with practitioners like me.
If you read through previous Q & A on my site you will find answers that address nasality.
14 AND SOFT SPOKEN
Question: I am a 14-year-old boy. When i speak softly my voice is clear, but when I speak loudly my voice changes; it broadens and I'm not able to breath properly. What should i do? When their is a marriage and music is played at a loud volume, no one is able to hear me. My friends are always teasing me and making fun of me. I feel like crying there..............
Answer: This is a very difficult time because the voice is changing and developing an extra layer of protection. Until that layer is developed it is not wise to try to be too loud. You can however try to get more resonance in your chest and in the front of the face. Put your hand on your chest and make an "o" sound, like in the work "coat." Expand you ribs as though you are grunting and fill yourself with this "o" sound. Next, use a nasty "a" sound, like in the word "cat" and feel the vibrations in your nose and the top of your mouth. When you speak, focus less on trying to be forceful and more on feeling the vibrations in your chest, nose and mouth and you should have more volume.
7th GRADE WITH A LISP
Question: I'm in 7th grade, am a girl and I have a medium lisp. I cant say my s's or z's clearly. It drives me nuts because people tease me about it. What are exercises I could do to get rid of it without speech therapy? I went to speech therapy when I was younger but stopped because they said it was gone. I guess not because people still tease me about it.Thanks for the help.
Answer: If you can remember them, you can do the exercises you were given when you were in speech therapy. You can also try practicing by putting a "t" or "n" in front of the "s" as well as "d" or "n" in front of the letter "z."
CAN SPEAKING SOFTLY DAMAGE?
Question: Is it possible to damage your voice or vocal chords by speaking softly? One of my co-workers speaks very loudly, and says her doctor told her she would damage her voice if she tried to speak more softly. We've tried everything to work with her on this, but she still drowns out all the people around her and causes me to have headaches. How could this be handled sensitively?
Answer: Whispering all of the time or having too much air passing through the vocal cords can irritate them but there is no reason why speaking at a normal volume should damage any one's vocal cords. You have to listen deeply to your colleague so that you can learn what is important to her. Then you need to find a way, using that knowledge, to show her how speaking more softly will support her in all that she values. If you are wise and accepting, you can even present things in a way that she will have the idea of speaking more softly herself. When the choice is hers, she will make the change.
NASAL R
Question: What type of oral motor therapy do you use with a child who is producing medial /r/ with nasality?
Answer: My best guess is that the back of the tongue is raising too high when the r is being formed. In this case, I would have the child pretend to yawn or feel surprised while making the r so that the back of the tongue remains lower.
SHAKY VOICE
Question: I suffer from a shaky voice -- it sounds like when someone is about to cry. I have anxiety and I don’t believe there is anything physically wrong with my voice; it is most likely the result of my nervousness and stress. The problem is that even on what I consider to be stress-free days, my voice is still the same. It has become very difficult to control the sound of it and I experience shortness of breath while I’m talking a lot, which again may just be a result of the nerves. What can I do to have a clear and normal speaking voice?
Answer: I recommend working with a speech therapist or voice coach if there is any way that you can. Group classes would be great for you too. Meanwhile, you can get a little start on your own. The first way to work is with the breath. Inhale low into the torso feeling the small of your back expand as well as the entire circumference of your lower ribs. Keeping the chest open, the ribs expanded and working out rather than collapsing in, make strong, energized exhalations on an "ssssss" or hissing sound. This will build strength and constancy in the air flow. Use short, 4 second "ssssss" so that you keep re-energizing the ribs. Using this strong, energized body, make sirens on a nasty "a" sound (like in the word "cat"). Really try to sound like a siren and be nasty. This will help you get a more energized phonation and the kind of resonance that, practiced carefully and without strain or pressure, will help you begin to develop a steadier voice.
STRAINED VOICE
Question: I have strained my voice before. I sang high notes and lost my voice the other day but it came back strong after resting my voice. I had been angry (but tried to control myself) and wonder if I scream quietly and a little less softly, what can happen? Hopefully i didn't injure my vocal chords. Can you advise me?
Answer: Excess tension on the voice, especially screaming, can cause small blood vessels to burst and this results in hoarseness. If the injury becomes irritated and doesn't heal, if you keep singing on it or using the voice in extreme ways, you can develop nodules. You need to see a doctor to determine if you have injured the cords and then follow whatever advice you receive. AND YOU MUST NOT SCREAM. You can however learn how to shout in a harmless way. When you work with a voice coach you can develop a technique that will allow you to express yourself in empowering and healthy ways.
QUICK VOLUME
Question: What is the quick way to speak louder, because my voice is very soft?
Answer: There is no "quick" way because you need to develop the strength the same as you would develop any kind of athletic strength. Otherwise you could injure yourself. You will need to support the voice by pacing the breath, getting a precise and adequate phonation and accessing the full resonance of your chest and head.
13 YEAR OLD WITH LOW VOICE
Question: I'm a 13 year old female with a really low voice, like a guy. I was wondering what could help with this. And my doctor told me that I have nasal problems and he gave me a nasal spray for it. Do you think that the nasal problems are causing my low voice? I just want to have a normal "13 year old" voice.
Answer: Nasal problems can certainly irritate the cords and cause you to sound low. You can help yourself by doing yoga breathing exercises to clear the congestion, by steaming, and by drinking lots of water. You could also practice accessing your high voice with sirens, humming and staccato (short, detached sounds that are almost like laughing).
MUMBLING
Question: What practices can I use to work on a mumbling issue I seem to have developed?
Answer: You can practice making clear, precise consonants; you can breathe deeply and speak with more energy; you can access more resonance in your face and head which will add brilliance and clarity. You can also consider whether you are physically fatigued or unwell, or if your spirits are generally low. Do you feel confident and do you have a strong sense of purpose? Do you enjoy conversing and is humor part of your expression? All of these are ingredients that can reduce mumbling, depending on what is causing it in the first place.
STAMMERING
Question: I am a stammerer and need to learn how to get rid of this problem; please suggest some excersises and techniques.
Answer: I am not a specialist with this. You can get better advice at stammering.net where they recommend books, self-study and other support.
THE IMPACT OF POSTURE AND BREATH
Question: How does your posture affect voice and speaking? How does breathing affect voice and speaking? do they have an impact?
Answer: I can't think of many things that breathing and posture don't affect! Your breath is what causes your vocal cords to vibrate; your ability to pace a fine, continuous stream of air through the cords as you exhale determines the quality of the vibration, the amount of pressure on the voice, and the energetic impact of your voice on yourself and others. If your posture is not aligned, your ability to manage the breath, vibrate the vocal cords precisely, resonate fully and articulate will all be compromised. That being said, people with physical handicaps that cause postural and breathing limitations still manage to develop effective and beautiful vocal expression. In these cases it is the soul's deep desire to express that triumphs.
TILL LINDEMANN SOUND ALIKE
Question: I am 20 years old male,and I sound just like Till Lindemann (because of it people call me Till). A band in my country asked me to do some covers of Rammstein I sing some of the Rammstein's songs but they didn't want to hire me as their singer because they say my voice sounds great in the studio but in live performance it fails. When I speak in a quiet room my voice is powerful but when I'm in a loud place (like a discoteque or cafe or the street)my voice fails and people can't hear what am I saying. I've been to many vocal therapists but they couldn't help; they say it's gonna come naturally and I spent all my savings for those therapies so I decided to ask you. Can you give me some advice as to how to form my voice,please,if you can post the answer to this website.
Answer: Whatever it is you do when recording and when you are successful is what you need to do all the time. If you don't change what you are doing, the sound will be consistent. Try to notice what you are doing differently. For example, when you are competing with noise do you push more air against the voice in an attempt to increase the volume? This would tire the instrument, result in poor phonation and diminished resonance. Pay attention and use all of your senses to track your singing. And rather than going to a speech therapist, try taking some singing lessons with a good voice coach.
SOFT SPOKEN
Question: I often get told that I'm soft spoken, and I would like to know how to overcome this. I get frustrated constantly repeating myself, and having a hard time getting my point across.
Answer: Physically you will need to work with your posture, the breath, the energy with which you bring your vocal cords together and the resonance. To develop all of these will take practice, commitment and endurance. You will also have to deal with your beliefs about speaking loudly and your emotional reasons for not doing so. You need to understand that in all of creation, your voice is utterly unique and meant to be heard. That is also true of everyone else. We all need to speak powerfully and listen carefully to one another. I recommend you work with a coach who can help you not only with vocal production but also with assertiveness and belief in the messages you have to offer.
CHEERLEADER
Question: I am a cheerleader and I can not deepen my voice. I need help to not sound so squeaky and girly.
Answer: To add depth and volume to your voice without hurting yourself takes great care and knowledge. It is most advisable, especially at your age, to work in person with a teacher or coach. If there is no one in your area you might want to try a phone session with a professional coach.
INJURED VOCAL CORD
Question: Among two vocal cords, if one gets injured, any remedy to cure that?
Answer: As with other physical injuries, you must work with a doctor. The doctor might also prescribe speech therapy which you should definitely do. Hopefully, as you change the way you use your instrument, it will heal without surgery. You must also be very careful because once one cord is injured it often causes problems for the other. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to get professional medical help as well as follow-up with a certified speech therapist.
MALE PUBERTY
Question: I am a male going through puberty and I (apparently) have a great voice. I do singing lessons and sing in the school choir. I know that eventually my voice will deepen and I can sort of feel it deepening now. I really don't want to lose my singing voice. How do I stop my voice from deepening?
Answer: You don't stop your voice from deepening and you don't want to. I receive many emails from young men who have gone through puberty and whose voices have not changed to become low enough. It is deeply painful. You will not lose your singing --you will have a beautiful adult voice. Just work carefully with your teacher and you will still be able to do everything you know how to do; it will just be lower and that will be very exciting a couple years from now!
LOST VOICE WITH PERFORMANCE AHEAD
Question: I am a 14 year old singer and my jaw hurts every morning; also my tongue. I can't open my mouth -- I have my nose and throat congested. Is it due to that? I've lost my voice and I am performing in a couple of days; can you help me?
Answer: You will have to see a specialist: an ear, nose and throat doctor (or a otolaryngologist). He or she might be able to give you a decongestant that won't dry you too much and they might also prescribe something to reduce the swelling (if there is any). You can steam, gargle, use a netti pot and drink as much water as possible. You can also try sucking on a hard candy (but NO cough drops or lozenges). As for waking up with pain in the tongue and jaw, you can ask the doctor. You might also try to learn if you grind your teeth or something like that. Ask your dentist the next time you have a check up -- they can usually tell. Rest as much as possible, talk as little as possible and relax. Anxiety can cause all of these issues too. Good luck with your performance!
THROAT BLOCKAGE
Question: It seems like my throat makes it hard to speak. I cant speak loudly -- can you help me?
Answer: You have to see a doctor to determine what is causing the blockage. Once you know the physical problem you can determine what part of your healing requires medical intervention and what part requires voice therapy. I'm sorry I can't tell you more, but your problem can't be solved on the internet. You need to work with professionals, in person.
I HAVE TO REPEAT MYSELF
Question: I am a 16 year old male. Whenever I talk to anyone, they always ask me to repeat myself. I don't know if I am soft-spoken, or if I have poor articulation, or what. I have tried to record myself, but I sound fine to me. However, everyone usually asks me to repeat myself. I am now really embarrassed to talk to anyone.
Answer: We all have things to learn about and improve on, and this is true for our entire lives. If I were you, I would ask parents, teachers or others you can trust to be kind and helpful, "What makes it difficult to hear me?" Explain to them that you want to remedy this but you aren't sure what the issue is. Hopefully they can tell you if you are too quiet or if you need to enunciate more clearly. Then you will know what to work on. Meanwhile, I suggest you work on your posture and on breathing deeply and fully. Think of always having as much energy as you would have if you were playing a sport. The more full of life and strength you feel, the more likely you are to be heard.
STAMMERING/STUTTERING
Question: I often stammer (stutter. Especially whenever I talk with an unknown person, I feel very hesitant.
Answer: This is not an area of expertise for me. If you google "stutter" you will find many websites that are more helpful. Try www.stutteringhelp.org for example.
MY VOICE HURTS
Question: I recently started a new business. I teach insurance employees continuing education and training in order to obtain their license. I teach 2-3 days a week for 8 hours straight and my throat hurts so bad after the first day. Is there anything I can do to avoid having this painful situation after each class? Also, it does progressively get worse.
Answer: This is not a short answer question, and without hearing and seeing you, I really can't be sure what would help. My best advice is for you to get with a voice professional who can analyze how you are using your voice and give you exercises to improve the function. You might want to see an ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor) to find out if you have post nasal drip or acid reflux or some other condition that is causing your voice to tire so quickly. Again, I don't mean to use this blog to push my own product but I do think if you listened to the Vocal Tune-Up CD you would get information that could help you identify your problems as well as exercises to help you resolve them. Meanwhile, drink lots of water and Throat Coat Tea (made by Traditional Medicinals). Steam morning and evening. Avoid mint and eucalyptus in throat lozenges and just such on a hard candy (butter scotch or something) to keep the voice moist. Avoid caffeine and anything you might be allergic too or that you notice causes phlegm in your system.
TEACHING THE AW SOUND
Question: How do I make my my student say the AW sound?
Answer: I think the answer is in the wording of your question -- we can't make our students do anything. We can however help them learn to explore the variables and deepen their relationship with their own voice. We can help them to see what they are doing by having them look in a mirror, or hear what they are doing using a recording device, or feel what they are doing by using their hands. AW is neither lateral like AY nor rounded like OH -- it is right in the middle and can be one of the hardest vowel sounds for many students. If the sound is too much like an open OH, you can have your student smile or alternate between EE and AW or between a nasty A (as in cat) and AW. If the AW lacks warmth and depth, then alternate the AW sound with an OH vowel. Is the jaw clenched or thrust open too wide? Is the tongue pulled high and back or laying flat inside the bottom teeth? What is happening with the relationship between the soft palate and the back of the tongue -- does it improve if the person thinks of feeling surprised or is it better if they think of making an NG hum? As a teacher you don't have to know all the answers. It is more important to understand what the elements are that can be played with and to help your students develop awareness of their own voice as they play with those elements.
BREATH, VOICE AND POSTURE
Question: Please discuss the relationship between breath, voice and posture.
Answer: A full discussion is actually a matter for several chapters in a book, but briefly put, pacing the exhalation of the breath between the vocal cords is what causes the cords to vibrate. Our ability to control and refine that pacing determines the quality of the vibration. For example, if there is too much air, the voice can sound weak and diffuse or thick and heavy. If there is too little air the sound can be squeaky or harsh. The way we pace the breath is by keeping the posture elevated and balanced so that the ribs can stay expanded and stretch the diaphragm low for as long as possible. Richard Miller's THE STRUCTURE OF SINGING is a wonderful resource for learning about the functions of the voice in detail.
SHOUTING AND SCREAMING
Question: What happens physically when you shout and scream?
Answer: This varies from one person to the next but for most of us there is an increase in heart rate, constriction of blood vessels, shift in brain chemistry and, of course, vocal strain. Some things we might notice is a tendancy to force the vocal cords together too strongly, and then to have air pushing up against them from below. We might raise the pitch and be much higher than usual. We might over articulate the consonants and contort the face, both of which can stress the voice. Notice what you do. Then, try not to do it and see if you can calm your anger. For example, if you breathe quickly and spit your words, breathe slowly and articulate very gently. If you go to a higher pitch, try to speak lower.
PAIN AND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS
Question: For the past five days, and still exceeding, my adam's apple has began to hurt. Is there any particular cause for this? Is it part of the developmental process?
Answer: I have no way of knowing what is causing the discomfort but it is DEFINITELY NOT PART OF THE PROCESS. That would be like saying you need to sprain your ankle to learn how to ski. I recommend you get some professional input --once someone sees and hears what you are doing they will be able to make suggestions about what is creating the strain.
LOUD IN CONSTRUCTION
Question: I speak very loudly & am very abrupt when I speak. I would like to speak in a softer tone but still be taken seriously. I work in Construction . . . can you Help???
Answer: You might need to work not only on vocal techniques (the Vocal Tune-Up CD has several exercises that would help) but also on what might cause you to be abrupt and loud. If your construction work is loud this might be a very great factor. These are qualities I've also noticed with people who are hard of hearing. Perhaps people have already given you feedback about possible causes or perhaps you can ask them how they perceive you. If, for example, someone is impatient they might be loud or abrupt. Sometimes when people are shy they also sound this way. Perhaps it feels contrived or false to you to speak softly and slowly. If you are going to make a change you might need to work on your personality as well as you voice and you might want to seek a little help from professionals in both areas.
POST NASAL DRIP
Question: I have post nasal drip and plugged ears,what remendy is there?
Answer: Of course the first thing you want to do is follow that advice of your doctor. You need to try to determine the cause, whether it be allergies or something else, and do what you can to stop it altogether. In terms of dealing with the symptoms, read the advice in POST NASAL DRIP and other answers.
RETAINER PROBLEMS?
Question: I do voice overs & was wondering if a lower cuspid to cuspid bonded retainer would cause me problems that I can't overcome?
Answer: I would think you will be able to adjust without too much trouble. Be especially mindful with your tongue. It might get "busy" or pull back in your mouth which can put a little tension into the voice. You might also have to get used to making some of your consonants again (those that involve the lower teeth and tongue). I don't think it would be more to deal with than braces (maybe less) and my students adjust to those in a couple weeks.
EXERCISES WANTED
Questions: I would like to learn how to get rid my squeaky voice. I'm fourteen and a lot of kids at school say I have a squeaky voice; some say it's high pitched and some say its really super girly. This has been going on for two years and I don't want my voice to be any of those things any more. My parents won't take me to a voice therapist so I wanted some voice exercises I could do at home.
Answer: It is not my plan to use this blog to promote my CD but the reason I created it is to help anyone looking for help who cannot, for whatever reason, get to a therapist or voice teacher. One really needs the audio -- blogging limits how much I can share. So my best advice is to either download my CD or to order it through the mail. Since you are in school you might also ask your teachers for help.
BLOCKED NOSE
Question: Last summer I had a sort of crack in the voice every time I sang head voice. My tutor asked me to go to an ENT (Ear-Nose-Throat) doctor. The doctor said I have a blockage in the nose. I have allergies in the nose -- I used spray but still my nose is blocked. What shall I do?
Answer: Very often when we have a blockage we push against it and this pressure can cause the voice to "crack." Instead, try to use maximum support by expanding your lower ribs in order to keep the breath low and away from your voice while singing a very small, pure tone. Have the sense of threading this small, pure sound through the congestion rather than pulling against it. Use an EE vowel sound first and don't try to go high at first. Teach yourself that singing is easy. Try plugging one nostril and sending all of the tone through the opposite side. After doing this for a while, switch sides. The sound SHOULD be nasal and the vibrations will start to break up the congestion. Then sing through both sides and notice the improvement. The sound will fill and move higher when it is ready. Your job is to be patient and persistent and fearless. Anxiety creates vocal tension -- faith creates release and ease.
You can also do yoga cleansing breath, netti pot and steaming. These and other practices on the Vocal Tune-Up CD might help you if you work diligently with them.
STEROIDS TO LOWER VOICE
Question: I'm a 16yr-old male whose voice changed at age 12 so I think won't get any deeper. However I have an ultimate passion for 'death metal' music and consequently sing along to quite low and vocally demanding (in terms of loudness) songs. I've been doing this for about about a year and I just feel that by forcing my voice to produce a louder sound whilst singing (but its more like growling loudly) I'm damaging it. I think this because it tends to get rapsy very quickly when compared to a few months ago. Does taking testosterone supplements work in deepening an already fairly deep voice? What can I do to manage my air better for prolonged notes?
Answer: Whatever you do to your voice at this age could determine how it functions for the rest of your life -- you need to be very careful and think deeply about whether it is worth it to you to risk permanent damage. I would never recommend hormones to lower the voice and one should never take such supplements without strict guidance and contact with a doctor. You probably are damaging your voice and you need to stop singing this music until you find a voice teacher who can help you learn how to do it without hurting yourself. If you want to develop your breath I recommend you download the Vocal Tune-Up CD and practise the breathing exercises on it. Above all I implore you to safeguard your voice and make smart choices -- the voice cannot be replaced and the way it functions (or fails to function) will affect your entire body and life.
EXERCISE AND VOCAL TENSION
Question: I did a lot of upper body exercises like sit ups, push-ups and v-man. After that my neck, especially around my voice box, felt very tight. The next day, the area around my voice box still continues to hurt. Can you give me some advice?
Answer: Often when we do strenuous exercise we hold the breath and grip the voice, as though we are going to grunt. This can put a lot of pressure on the voice and the neck muscles. You need to release these muscles while you exercise and the best way to do that is to keep breathing. You need to learn to breathe into the rib cage while you work the abdominals. Release the hinge of your jaw and the tongue as well.
THE TONGUE
Question: How does the tongue work to create the voice?
Answer: The tongue does not create the voice -- the exhalation of air passing through the vocal cords and causing them to vibrate creates the beginning of the sound. It is then enhanced as it gathers resonance from the trachea (or windpipe), bronchial tubes, larynx (or voice box), mouth, nose, and other open spaces in the head. The tongue, depending on how it is shaped, can influence the quality of the resonance as it directs the vibrations of the vocal cords more into some of the resonators or less into others. It is also used to articulate many of the consonants.
UNINTERESTING VOICE
Question: I'd like to Inquire about voice coaching/lessons to improve the sound of my voice. I don't think it's very interesting or compelling...and I'm in a professional job where it should be.
Similarly in social settings, people can never seem to hear me...it's almost like my voice gets muffled in with whatever is in the background. I'm a 44 year old female.
I don't recall this being an issue when I was younger but it has bothered me for the past 8 years or so. I've lived all over the world and maybe it's just a mutt voice but any help would be greatly appreciated.
Answer: There are a few elements of vocal function that contribute to being heard:
-- a clear tone without extra air in it (if your voice is diffuse and breathy you can play with making it a little squeaky. Once you get a clearer sound relax and let the squeak just be at the very core of the tone.)
-- resonance in all the cavities of your body and head (trachea, bronchi, larynx, mouth, nose, spaces behind the larynx, mouth and nose, and a little even in the sinuses).
-- articulation (crisp, clear consonants)
An interesting voice is almost musical: there is rhythmic variation, modulation of pitch and emotional inflection. There is nuance in the tone to accompany shades of meaning.
Everyone can do these things -- it doesn't take a special voice. However, we can all do them more easily with awareness, practice and, perhaps, with coaching. If you have the resources I would certainly encourage you to do that for yourself.
FORCING AT FOURTEEN
Question: I am 14 years old and I tend to force myself to have a lower voice. My voice isn't extremely high pitched like a 6 year olds voice for example, but it still isn't that deep. My friends have much deeper voices than I do and it humiliates me a bit. I want to know will forcing myself to speak in a deep voice damage my vocal chords? Also since I am only 14 will my voice ever get deeper naturally?
Answer: Any forcing of the voice is not healthy, especially at your age. There are many factors to consider and we all mature at different rates but your voice should continue to lower over the next few years. The best person to advise you is a doctor who can thoroughly examine you and determine if everything is normal for where you are in the process of puberty.
POST VOCAL CORD SURGERY
Question: I had a problem with my vocal chords not coming together. I had a surgery where they put a piece by my left vocal chord to help them meet. This was to produce sound. It worked for a day and then went back hoarse sounding, or like talking in a whisper. I have gone to speech therapy, but do not do the exercises because I feel they are not helping. I am really unhappy about this. I do not know what to do.
Answer: Is the therapist someone recommended by your surgeon? Ideally the doctor and therapist can work together to help you. Very often it takes time for exercises to work. Just as you can't do sit-ups a couple times to get stronger abdominal muscles, you can't change vocal function in a very short time. You will need endurance and dedication. You can also try other therapists to see if someone else has techniques that work better for you. The most important thing is to not give up.
SAME QUESTIONS
My Dear Wonderful Readers,
It is such a joy to have this dialogue with you! Since many of you ask questions that have been answered before, I may not post an answer directly to your question. If I have not responded to you specifically, please browse through the subject lines to find the information you are looking for. And please keep asking so that we can continue to learn from each other.
Very best,
Jocelyn
CAR ACCIDENT
Question: I'm a 22 year old male. I was in a serious car accident in February this year and have only recently been discharged from hospital. I spent 19 days in a coma. My voice sounds very different and I find it slightly difficult to say some words clearly. I have speech therapy but when I have asked whether my speech will return to normal I've received two different answers. One saying it is very likely to and another saying maybe but there's likely to always be something different about it. Can you advise me of which one is most likely to be correct? Also what percentage of people with acquired speech problems return to speaking normally once again and how long is it likely to take? Thank you.
Answer: The Hubble Telescope has identified 125 Billion galaxies and scientists say there are sure to be more. In all of that creation there has never been another voice like yours and there never will be. That says to me that whatever the source of all this creation might be, it desires passionately to express through you.I have come to believe that everything is possible when we are able to tap into the healing power of the creative force and do the work that we have to do in order to recover. When someone tells us to what degree we can heal, they are telling us about the portion they know about; the rest is up to us. Of course, there are certain kinds of damage that we "know" are impossible to overcome, but then there are always those miraculous people who heal despite what we "know." I suggest you do every bit of work the therapists give to you. Be thorough and committed. Make no excuses for yourself. And then have faith in what we don't know. Have faith in the power of your voice to express all that you have to bring to life. Have faith in the grace that wants to express through you as a gift to everyone around you. And don't compare yourself to anyone else -- live your own potential!
15, LOW CONFIDENCE
Question: I'm a 15 year old girl; for the past couple of years I've been having nasal congestion and cannot breathe through my nose easily. I don't have a cold. This is ruining my life and my confidence and when I record my self I sound different to how I hear myself. I sound normal to me. But when I hear myself I feel like crying. I've been referred to the hospital 2 times and they've just given me nasal spray called something like Nasonex. I don't feel the effect. Then I went to the doctor again and they just say to steam every night. Tomorrow I'm getting my braces removed; I'm hoping that will make a little change -- I'm not sure. I have a little lisp (not that bad) I think it is due to my braces. Please help me. Nobody will give me an answer.
Answer: You have brought up several issues. Let's deal firstly with the congestion. Sometimes prescriptions need a few days before we can notice the benefit; try to be patient and keep working with your doctor until you find a solution. Steaming is a great idea (I do it a lot!) as is yoga cleansing breathing and rinsing the nasal passages with a Netti pot. You might be allergic to some things, in which case having allergy tests would be a good idea. Once you know what you are sensitive to, you might be able to eliminate foods or irritants in your environment that are causing the congestion. Secondly, once you have the braces off you will still have a little adjustment period but certainly you should be better able to pronounce all sounds without a lisp. If it doesn't go away, go to a speech therapist for one session and get some exercises to help you. Remember, exercises only work if we really do them and it takes 30 days to make a significant change in our reflexes. Lastly, try not to go into victim mode. No matter how much anyone tries to help us, we are the ones who must lovingly care for our selves. We must keep trying new doctors, new solutions, new habits, new whatever-it-takes until something clicks. At the end of it all, we will have learned not only about our body and voice, but also about our personality, our stamina, our capacity for optimism and our ability to heal ourselves.
DENTAL WORK
Question: I have a sharp whistling sound when I try to say "s", "sh" and "ch" sounds. It started after dental work and it has been over two years now. I have not found a dentist willing to help me. Is there any hope that speech therapy could help? Can the tongue be re-trained to make sounds properly?
Answer: I do think speech therapy will help you and yes, once you know how to practice, you can retrain your tongue. You just need someone to help you analyze what you are doing and to give you the appropriate exercises.
NEED TO PROJECT
Question: I am a 25 year old female. I hate my voice because I cannot project it. When I try to speak louder, my voice sounds either shaky like I'm about to cry, cracks, or it sounds like I'm out of breath. This problem is affecting my job performance because it hinders me from getting a supervisor position. I'm afraid to speak in public as a result. Being in front of people does not make me nervous. Its my voice.
Answer: The first thing you need to do is see an ENT or laryngologist to have your cords looked at. You need to make sure they are healthy and structurally sound. There are physiological conditions that can create your problem but only a doctor can identify them. The doctor will also know how to correct any issues. If you find the voice is healthy, then you need to work with an experienced voice professional to learn how to breathe and support, access resonance and take all the pressure off the voice itself. However, you should only do this work after you have seen the doctor so that you don't strain your voice. It might also be an emotional process for you to create this vocal shift and you might like to make sure you have someone trained and knowledgeable to support you in dealing with that piece.
TWELVE YEAR OLD MALE
Question: I'm a 12 year old male and I have a very high pitched voice. I would like to be able to lower it. Is there any way to lower it without training?
Answer: Your voice will lower on its own, naturally. At your age, pushing the voice low could be damaging. I think it is always best to work with an experienced professional and, in your case, with someone who has knowledge of the development of the male voice at puberty.
SLOW AND DRAWN OUT
Question: I am a female adult. I am constantly aware that I have a very slow, drawn out voice which sounds like I'm falling asleep. It doesn't feel like I hold people's attention. It is affecting my confidence as I choose not to offer my opinion in group situations (professional and social) in case everyone thinks I sound weird. People either love or hate my voice but I just wish it wasn't something to be commented upon. It tends to happen most when I am bored or tired. I hate it and am conscious of it every single time I speak and wish it could speed up. I dread the thought that my future children will pick up the same style of speech. Thank you for your consideration.
Answer: One of the features of language is rhythm or pacing and it communicates certain things about our personality, emotional pitch and state of mind. I live in New York City where we tend to race around, "talk a mile a minute," and have the opposite concern -- we need to slow down. Because it is a reflection of all that is going on with us, changing the rhythm and pacing of our speech is not merely a question of speaking faster or slower; it might require being faster or slower. Practicing reading aloud at a rapid pace will help you to develop your articulation and breath management so that you technically have the ability to speak faster. You might do some tongue, lip and facial exercises to get the muscles to be flexible and responsive. You might also try doing some high speed walking to increase your heart rate and overall energy level. As you push yourself to read rapidly, perhaps you will be able to identify any resistance, feelings or thoughts that keep you in slow motion. Beyond that, observe yourself and consider how quickly you move, how quickly you think. Perhaps you are a person who considers choices carefully and rarely has to apologize because you don't speak in haste. Breaking patterns takes time and dogged commitment. We change by countless repetitions of the new behavior we want to incorporate until it finally becomes a reflex, until we have a new pattern of speaking.
SOUNDING NORMAL
Question: I have a really bad problem with my voice. I'm a 20 year old male, and I've always had a "weird" voice. It is very nasally and not very deep. How do I correct that? I think part of the problem could be that I don't talk very much, probably less than a quarter of the amount normal people speak in a day. For the past few weeks, I have been reading books aloud for about 20-30 minutes a day. I want my voice to just sound normal -- how do I do this? If it was normal sounding I'd be able to have more conversations and confidence.
Answer: I encourage you to do two things: go to a doctor who specializes in the voice to make sure your voice is structurally and functionally okay. Then work with a voice specialist -- perhaps someone the doctor recommends. A trained professional needs to hear and see what is creating the issues before specific suggestions can be made. You can definitely improve because you are willing to practice and put in time to make a change, but you will need more help than I can give here.
THICK TONGUE
Question: I feel my tongue is thick; in appearance it looks the same. I feel I am not speaking clearly; my peers say that I am. What is going on? This has just happened in the last week or so.
Answer: I have absolutely no way of knowing what has happened but wonder if perhaps you bit your tongue in your sleep, have had dental work recently, have started a new medication of some kind, or have introduced a new herbal tea or something. These ideas are not meant to be a solution but are simply to help you think about what might have changed.
LITTLE GIRL VOICE
Question: I am a 50-year-old, intelligent woman. I find I am not taken seriously because of my high, little-girl voice; it gets even higher as I lose cconfidence when others hear me. Can you help?
Answer: First let me say that changing the range of the voice can be taxing; you need to work slowly, over time, and ideally with a coach. You will need to determine what is causing the voice to be so high: Does your laryx (voice box) raise up when you speak? Is it also nasal sounding? If so, does your tongue raise up in the back when you speak? Do you have difficulty getting a strong clear sound lower in the voice? If you make a descending siren can you get your voice to go lower?
There are exercises in the answers to questions regarding lowering the voice below that you may try. The Vocal Tune-Up CD also has practices that will help you if you want to work on your own.
CONSONANTS
Question: I have been checked by a doctor and my larynx is ok, but I have a problem with consonants. They are painful and my voice box gets tired almost immediately. Can you help?
Answer: Without knowing exactly what you do, I am not certain I can help but here are a couple suggestions. Breathe as deeply as you can, feeling your lower ribs and the small of your back expand. Exhale using a long hissing sound or "ssssss" while trying to stay expanded. Repeat this a few times and make sure your tongue is resting flat in the bottom of your mouth. Even though your teeth need to come together for this sound, be certain you are not gripping in the jaw at the back. Make sure your posture is tall and move your head very gently from side to side to be certain your neck is relaxed. Keeping this relaxation, repeat the exercise humming instead of hissing. Now alternate between the "hum" and "ah" as though you are saying a very slow "Mama." As you repeat notice that your tongue is resting flat in the bottom of your mouth, that your jaw is not gripped, and that your neck is released. Repeat and monitor with [N] and "oh" saying an elongated "No, no, no." Once you have learned to keep the breath and the voice flowing through these consonants, you can go through the alphabet and practice each of the consonants making them as precise and small as possible. For example, [B] requires only that you bring your lips together. Do this and follow each [B] with a different vowel: a, e, i, o, or u. The VOCAL TUNE-UP CD will take you through a complete workout with all of the consonants if you need extensive help to produce them without stress.
TOO DARN FAST IN SYDNEY
Question: I speak way too fast and become can be become faster and faster. I have always been like this since a child. I have never been a mumbler I do speak clearly. I am a confident speaker publicly and socially even since befoe high school. I was a sucessful debater. I need to do something about this professionally and socially. As much as everyone who knows me thinks this is just my fasanating notorious trait !!!!!! Ineed this to change as I am an acount manager and business wise I know this is something I need to change. I am also personally sick of being misunderstood many times not in any bad way but because my speech is so fast what I say and i what it is taken as can be 2 very different things. can what should I do and where do I start. I have tried the breathing putting my tongue against my teeth when people speak but this is not enough. It was like my brain was just born this fast !!! I am also a fluent Japanese speaker and even Japanese are fasinated how fast I speak Japanese considering it is a language which is naturally a very fast language.
What should I do I live in sydney
Answer: Although I normally edit the questions so that they are easy for everyone to read, I left yours "as sent" so everyone can experience the way your speed issue manifests. When we go at an excessively rapid pace we tend to make mistakes, but even more interesting is the effect on our body and brain chemistry. To be in a speed mode is not unlike taking an amphetamine. Interestingly, whether we have a tendancy to be speeding excessively, or depressive, or anxious, or forever clowning around, we develop a sort of addiction to our familiar state of being. We grow comfortable with it and lose the ability to choose other states of being. Once we are in this mode it can be difficult to shift significantly on our own; regular, consistent work with a wise and skillful voice coach is needed. Also, since these kinds of shifts require deep psyco-spiritual shifts and create change in every relationship we have including the way we relate to ourselves, we might also require a therapist and/or spiritual advisor to be part of our team. However we choose to address a communication/relationship pattern, I think it is wise to seek the support and guidance of experienced professionals.
THE RIGHT DOCTOR
Question: I`m a musician and when I sing (or speak) it sounds like I have a cold (nasal). It would greatly improve my career if I could at least sing back-up vocals. I`ve tried singing lessons and speech therapy and they didn`t help. I`m considering surgery but don`t know what kind of doctor to look for.
Answer: You will need an ENT (ear, nose and throat) or Laryngologist. Once you see a doctor you will know if the condition requires surgery or if vocal work should help it. If so, you need to try different teachers and therapists until you find one who knows how to help you. There are many different techniques and practices out there and all of them work for someone but none of them work for everyone.
EXCESS SALIVA
Question: I drip saliva when I speak. It embarasses me.
Answer: Because there are several diverse causes for excess saliva, I suggest you see a doctor to find out what might be causing it. In the meantime, try to swallow frequently -- even as often as every time you finish a sentence. Also, try inhaling through your mouth (this has a drying effect), don't open your mouth too wide when you speak and, since the biggest saliva glands are in the bottom of the mouth, keep your tongue low and flat.
HOPEFUL IN DARJEELING
Question: My voice is like a girl's voice due to which I have lost all my confidence. My isc results are out but I don't want to join any college because of my voice. I have not yet joined any kind of vocal therapy. Can you please advise me of any doctor or hospital name around Darjeeling, my home town, because I can't go abroad.
Answer: You are very brave to reach out for help and I know you will find what you need! I am not connected to speech therapists where you are, but this link will bring up a listing of audiologists and speech pathologists in India - Rehabilitaion Council of India If there is not a listing of someone near you, contact people on the list until they can refer someone. Do not give up until you have achieved your goal of finding the help you need.
You can also go to a local ear nose and throat doctor, or a laryngologist, because they usually work with audiologists and speech pathologists so they could also refer you to someone. Also, when a docotr examines your cords he or she might find a physical reason for the way your voice sounds and they might have a treatment. If you do not know a doctor, you can go into any hospital and say that you are researching where to find a voice doctor and speech pathologist. Because you never give up, someone will have an answer and be able to refer you. You might have to follow several referrals but know this: you can definitely find the help you need! I have learned from my work over many years that sometimes the hardest challenges bring about the most extraordinary gifts.
SLOW AND ARTICULATE
Question: I attended speech therapy lessons as a boy. Now as an adult, I still find myself mumbling, talking too quickly and not articulating words properly when I talk. I am aware that I do this but don't know how to stop myself. Help!?
Answer: Sometimes it is not enough to work technically with the voice. If you are not making progress even though you have this awareness and training, perhaps the vocal and expressive changes you need to make are generating even more vulnerability or anxiety than the problems you describe. Sometimes we have to work with a therapist, coach or spiritual ally to examine the psychological reasons for our speaking patterns. Once we work through these issues and feel we have emotional and spiritual support for making the vocal and expressive changes, the technical work can go very quickly.
SORE THROAT
Question: I am a part time teacher and mother of three. I find that after only a short time of speaking to a class, reading to my child or talking to other mothers my throat becomes tight and sore. The ENT says my throat is red, but clear. I often have blocked sinuses and suspected rhinitus. Could sore throat and tightness be due to something muscular?
Answer: If there is redness, it is likely related to your congestion, post nasal drip and the resulting inflammation. You might be creating muscular tension either from trying to push through or from trying to avoid the symptoms. You would be able to determine this in a session with a voice professional and, if there is muscular tension, you could get some exercises to release it. Since your doctor has diagnosed the symptoms, you should be able to get a referral to a speech specialist who is covered by your insurance. You can also use a very mild saline solution to irrigate your nasal passages and to gargle. I would also recommend steaming as it will not only clear the respiratory passages but will also increase circulation and reduce swelling of the inflamed tissues.
LIP MOVEMENT
Question: How do I speak without moving my lips?
Answer: Lip movement is normal, healthy and expressive. If you want to eliminate it, I recommend you work with a ventriloquist or read material written to teach that.
MATURE, CONFIDENT VOICE
Question: Please help me out. I am 27 years old and used to be very confident, but I have been realizing I have got a childish voice. I have lost my confidence. Please let me know how to get my voice thicker like a mature man.
Answer: Developing the voice to be stronger and deeper takes time and is best achieved with a vocal coach. You should work for only 10 or 15 minutes at a time at first. Part of what you need is for the vocal cords to come together in a more energetic manner when you start a sound. You can practice making a weaker tone by starting any vowel sound with an "h" and then make a stronger tone by starting the same vowel with a glottal attack. The ideal sound is started with neither an "h" nor a glottal attack but is balanced exactly between the two. You also need to feel the resonance vibrating your breast bone and ribs. You can use "oh" on a lower pitch to help develop this. To learn more, you can download the Vocal Tune-Up CD or seek out a voice coach in your locale.
PRONUNCIATION
Question: How do you know how to say words that have unusual spelling?
Answer: Your best source is a good dictionary. In the front there is a "key" that explains the system of sounds used (often it is the International Phonetic Alphabet). When you look up the word in question, refer back to the "key" in order to learn how to say it. The dictionary will also have a system to tell you which syllable to emphasize.
SLOWING DOWN
Question: I slur my words and speak very very fast. It's almost like I can't keep up with what I want to say! How do I slow down and speak more clearly?
Answer: First, take slower, lower breaths. Next, make clear, strong consonants. Finally, listen more, especially to your own ideas before you speak. There is time for everything.
DO LESSONS HELP?
Question: I'm a 15 year old boy and each year I've been told that my voice deepens slightly... but it hasn't broken yet. I also have a slight British accent whilst living in South Africa... I am going to start Pro singing lessons... Will this improve/deepen my voice? Or is there another method? When I record myself singing, I listen to the playback and get embarrassed... thinking if thats really what my voice sounds like; yet most people say that when I sing it sounds good... Please Help!
Answer: Your voice will deepen in its own time but lessons will help you learn to support it, to make it reliable without straining. You will also learn how to hear yourself, how to listen for the beauty that others hear. Singing tends to take away the accent because we focus on making the sounds purely and precisely. Enjoy your studies! There is so much to learn and singing just keeps getting better.
HOW TO STRENGTHEN THE LOWER VOICE
Question: I am a 15 year old baritone from Australia, and I am singing the basso solo for the Mozart Requiem in the two movements that require soloists. I can sing the lower notes, however they do not expand and resonate as much as I'd like them to -- they are simply too soft. I was told to use the french 'ain' sound in warm-ups to release the larynx, but often this seems to increase nasality. Could you suggest an appropriate solution to this, such that in about a month I could have a slightly thicker sound coming through?
Answer: At your age, the one thing you absolutely must not do is push the extremes of the voice. Your low notes should be soft at your age and you should be very careful not to sing repertoire that demands too much of your instrument. You will have decades of singing if you are sensible now; you could create vocal challenges and future dysfunction if you are not. Ask if the rest of the ensemble can be very soft when you sing the low notes in order to support you.
TOO LOUD
Question: I speak too loud. When I am excited even louder. Can this help me with my volume control? I am a 57 year old woman.
Answer: Yes! Voice work can definitely help you with volume control. As you learn to support the voice with strength in the torso and as you learn to work with the resonators (including your trachea and bronchi in the chest, as well as your larynx, mouth, nose, and the pharynx or open space behind them) you can adjust not only the volume but also the quality of the sound. There are specific exercises on the Vocal Tune-Up CD which you can download as an MP3 file or order to have sent through the mail. You can also work with me over the telephone or, you can work with a voice coach in your area. We can transform our voice at any age!
FALSETTO
Question: I am a male, 16 year old. I was wondering if it hurts your vocal cords to laugh or sing in your falsetto voice? When I am singing in my falsetto voice I can hit an "A." I am confused because everyone is telling me something different... please help!
Answer: When you are in falsetto your are not actually using your vocal cords (you are using what are called false vocal cords) so you will not hurt your voice. If you refer to Richard Miller's THE STRUCTURE OF SINGING you can get a full explanation of falsetto in the male voice.
BOYISH VOICE
Question: I want a more boyish, higher and younger voice but not sounding broken because I have a young face to start with. I want to know how I go about doing that, whatever it takes to do so.
Answer: I recommend you work with a coach in your location, wherever it is you live. This is not something I can help you with in a short answer in an email, nor is it an area of expertise for me. Whatever you do, love your voice and honor the function it is designed to have -- in that perfect function is the grace and miracle of your self-expression and your relationships.
VOICE CHANGE AT PUBERTY
Question: I am 12 years old and my voice has broken and I cannot sing in my old high pitch; is there any chance of me being able to sing that high again and if so how?
Answer: If you are male, the answer is no, unless you find the notes in falsetto which is not likely how you would want to sing. If you are female, then your voice, like the male voice, will get an extra layer of epithelium cells. There will be some hormonal influence but the changes are much less dramatic than in men. At your age I would still expect you to be able to sing high. Everyone at this age should work carefully and not push the voice into any extremes.
JACK NICHOLSON
Question: I'm a Jack Nicholson Look-Alike who wants to be able to sound more like the real Jack when performing. I have tried many different ways to accomplish this, but so far, nothing has worked to my satisfaction. Any suggestions?
PS: The best adivice I've had so far is to... Speak from the front of my mouth, in low tones with some of the sound through my nose. Keeping a low tone consistently is not easy to do, especially late in the day.
Answer: Because I can't hear how you sound, I can't possibly answer your question with anything specific. That being said, here are some hints for imitation in general. Listen for specifics: how your subject sounds each vowel and consonant, whether the resonance (different from pitch) is deep and in the chest or bright and in the head, or balanced and in both places. Notice what happens if you imitate your subject's body language and facial expressions. If you position your weight over your feet the way they do instead of the way you are normally inclined, your voice will sound more like theirs. It's fascinating! Listen broadly: to the rhythm and speed of their delivery, to the habits of phrasing. The more brilliant is the person you are trying to impersonate, the harder it will be because what they do will be much more varied and complex.
CLOGGED UP
Question: I'm told I have a beautiful singing voice. Last Sunday I did a duet with another girl but I was so clogged up I wanted to scream and felt so bad afterwards. What can I do to remove the clog?
Answer: I assume that you are referring to nasal or sinus congestion that is producing excess mucous and interfering with your voice. The first thing is to determine what is causing this whether it is allergies, stress or something else. Then you might have to take medication, change your diet, give up your pet or whatever other external changes can be made. If you smoke you absolutely must quit. You can also try using saline rinse for the nose and sinuses. You can gargle with a very lightly salted water. You can also try steaming and yoga cleansing breath exercises. Vocal exercises that use nasal sounds and work the high part of the range can be good to clear the sinuses and nasal passages.
TEACHER OR COACH
Question: What is the difference between a singing teacher and a vocal coach?
Answer: In the classical world, a teacher is someone who teaches vocal technique and makes application to repertoire, although they often do not play the piano. A coach tends to be a pianist who deals primarily with repertoire, helping with musicianship and interpretation. Both deal with phrasing, diction, and performance elements. In the pop, jazz and Broadway world, people tend to use the terms interchangeably or to refer to teachers as coaches too.
"R" SOUNDS LIKE "W"
Question: I really, really, really need help with the r sound in the middle of a word mostly, but a little every where. I'm 14 and in school; I'm really nervous to speak any time I have to. What should I do? By the way my r sounds like w. Thank you so much.
Answer: "R" is formed by raising the tip of the tongue toward, but not touching, the inside of the upper gums. If you get a "w" sound, that means you are rounding your lips to make the sound instead of using your tongue. Practice making the "r" with a big smile so that your lips will not round; keeping your tongue wide, raise the tip of it toward the gums of your top teeth. If these directions don't help, see if the school guidance counselor can arrange for you to have a session with a speech therapist to work on it.
FINAL "R"
Question: My son is 11 years old. He was in speech therapy from pre-k through 3rd grade in our school systems. For approximately 18 months he received therapy and progressed well at a local university. His most significant continuing issue is the ending r sound. He makes an or sound in place of er--for when trying to articulate either for or fur. What is the difference in the tongue placement for the er instead of or ending sound. I cannot find any clear reference for this issue. He can say words such as terrific but I think he may be tagging onto the beginning r for "riffic". Any help would be very appreciated.
Answer: The difference between "or" and "er" is in the shape of the lips: we round the lips for "o" and have them more laterally shaped as in a smile for "e." The tongue would be lower in the back for the "o" and broader and flatter on the "e." Have your son practice smiling when he says the "er" and see if that helps. Because the movement of the tongue between these two sounds is so subtle it would be harder to make the desired change by focusing on the tongue.
THICK TONGUE/EXCESS SALIVA
Question: I have a thick tongue and sometimes saliva comes out of it; my speech is not good. What should I do?
Answer: Read below under the heading UNCLEAR AND MISUNDERSTOOD for tongue exercises. I don't know what causes your excess saliva but if you swallow frequently it should interfere less with your speaking. You might also try breathing through your mouth as the air will also dry some of the saliva.
STRENGTHEN SINGING VOICE
Question: How can I strengthen my singing voice?
Answer: By singing in all parts of the range and by working all of the functions: breath management, vocal cord function, resonance and flexibility. Because we speak all the time, the speaking part of the vocal range is usually stronger. Singing can develop the entire vocal range. Like any other muscle, the voice has to be strengthened gradually and carefully over time. It is also important to remember that volume and quality come from resonance rather than force. It is the precise and efficient working of the voice that makes it sound full and rich.
TOO ANXIOUS
Question: If a person of 21 years of age speaks rapidly when excited or anxious, to the extent that their friends cannot understand them, can they do anything to remedy this? They have tried to control it without success.
Answer: You will need to develop a practice when you are not anxious so that when you become anxious the habits of speaking you consciously develop will be strong enough to hold up under pressure. That means every day, preferably first thing in the morning, you must work with your breath to keep it full, slow and even. Then sustain vowels that resonate in both your chest and head and practice making crisp, clear consonants. End your session by telling yourself that when you get excited you will breathe slowly and speak in this way. Wear your watch or a ring on the opposite hand to remind yourself. Keep creating new reminders and remember it takes 30 days of continuous awareness to change a habit. After that time, it will start to be a reflex. Also, people who speak rapidly have reasons for doing so. Try making a list of the reasons you feel there isn't enough time to say what you have to say. Know that there is enough time.
MORNING VOICE
Question: How can I keep my nice low bass voice I have in the early morning hours throughout the entire day?
Answer: As we call our spirits back from dreaming and into our bodies, we become energized and active. Since science has become sophisticated enough to measure the effects of the voice on both the speaker and the listeners we have learned that as the voice rises and gathers resonance, it stimulates the brain, the organs and glands. It also stimulates your listeners' brains, organs and glands. There is not, to the best of my knowledge, any measurable advantage to having a sleepy morning voice all day. Nor do I know of any healthy way to achieve that. I recommend falling in love with all the capacities of your voice -- it is awesome to have an entire rainbow of colors to express with rather than just one.
NOSE PLUGGING
Question: This may sound unusual, but the question I have is about plugging the nose. I have the ability to plug my nose by will alone. I have become accustomed to using this while singing to create different affects. It was quite a surprise to find out that not everyone can do this. The only thing on the net that I've found about this, is another person in a chatroom basically asking similar questions as I am. If there is anyway you can provide me with the actual term for what I'm doing or a website where I can find more information about this, it would be greatly appreciated. P.S.: This is not to be confused with merely raising the soft palate.
Answer: I know of no term for what you are doing nor of a website that discusses it. Raising the palate would un-plug, rather than plug the nose. However, lowering the soft palate to meet the back of the tongue would plug the nose. Even if it doesn't completely touch the tongue, you can achieve varying degrees of nasal resonance with a somewhat lower palate and very slightly elevated back of the tongue. Remember, you have the entire nasal pharynx (open space behind the nose) to play with as well and miniscule adjustments to the pharyngeal muscles, the tongue and the palate create wildly different effects.
I'M EIGHTEEN
Question: I'm 18, male, and in the last couple of years I've had a problem in pronouncing my 'r'. They come as 'wrh' if you know what I mean. This has made me self-conscious of the way I speak and I often mumble or speak in a low voice. Is there any natural thing I can do to fix this?
Answer: How is your posture? Do you exercise? You are at an age where you have grown a lot and you need to strengthen your muscles to support yourself and have an energized voice. You need to be as tall as possible and keep your lower ribs expanded while you speak. It will also help if you smile and make crisp consonants. As for the 'r' make sure that you don't involve your lips at all (don't let them round as in an 'oh' or 'ooh') -- use only your tongue. Also make sure that you are not exhaling an extra puff of air when you make the 'r.'
NERVE DAMAGE
Question: My mother used to love to sing and a couple of years ago she lost her voice due to some nerve damage in her neck; she went through surgery which the doctor told her would probably bring a lot of it back, and it did. However he told her for her voice to come fully back she would need to take voice therapy classes. Unfortunately her insurance doesn't cover such classes. I was wondering if their are any exercises that she can do herself at home or techniques that she could try to help her?
Answer: It is not responsible to answer a question like this without hearing your mother and knowing what her specific needs are. This is one time when you really must find someone knowledgeable about the voice and healing. Some plans will cover voice therapy if the therapist is prescribed by the doctor. I wish your mother complete healing and the joy of her singing.
TONGUE TWISTERS
Question: How can tongue twisters help people to improve their speaking ability?
Answer: They are meant to improve articulation. In other words, the tongue, lips, teeth, and jaw become more coordinated and flexible. Small, precise movements make it easier to say tongue twisters quickly and accurately.
PRESENTATIONS
Question: Do you help put together presentations? I am looking to put togeher a 2 hour presentation of which 30 minutes of it will be a video on water.Best RegardsR. B.
Answer: Yes, I do. You need to contact me at jocelyn@morethanspeaking.com and give me a return email or telephone number.
HOW CAN I MAKE MY VOICE HIGHER?
Question: How can I make my voice higher? I am a woman with a low voice. My voice lowered 10 years ago due to a hormone producing tumor. I would really like to sing in a women's choir but I'm really a tenor and just can't sing high enough. Is there anything I can do to get a few notes higher?
Answer: I have never had anyone with this kind of hormone issue before so I have to say, "I don't know." I would ask your endocrinologist as well as a laryngologist what the physical realities are. If they say the cords can be trained to phonate at higher pitches, then find a really good voice teacher and work with technigues to develop the cords. I'm sorry this is all I have to offer but to say anything more specific would not be responsible. All the best.
NASALITY HELPS?
Question: I am lecturer at medical school. My fluency suffers when i speak in my original voice. I feel the fluency will be little better if speak in little bit of nasal quality. Whats your suggestion & advice Sir.
Answer: There are several resonating spaces in the head and when we are using them effectively we will feel the vibrations not only in the nose but also behind it. As long as the sound isn't pinched and excessively nasal, having the nasal passages contributing to the overall tone is great.
CAN'T COMMUNICATE
Question: I am 22 year old, i feel very uncomfatable when i speak, i dont think my voice has broken, when i speak my voice squeekes, when i talk to people they dont understand what i am saying beacuse my voisese crakes., i dont know what to do, iam currenlty studying law i feel that i can not comunicate properly.
Answer: This is a very big question and it would not be appropriate for me to try to give specific advice here. I recommend that you see a doctor to find out why your voice cracks and squeaks. Then you need to work with a speech therapist. You can read below to see if any of the exercises I have given before help you.
TOO NASAL
Question: I really need help with improving the sound of my voice. I am going to attend an interview for a very high position in my company, but my advisor told me that when I talk it sounds like I talk through my nose. PLEASEEEE I need your help and advice as to what I am supposed to do.
Answer: This is a speaking pattern you might not be able to change over night. However, you are interviewing for this position because you have many merits that qualify you and you can continue to succeed while you work on your voice. Don't let self consciousness about your voice interfere with your other strengths or your belief in yourself. For a quick fix, try plugging your nose and saying different vowel sounds: ee, ay, I, oh, ooh. If there is pressure in the nose, try making the sounds as though you are yawning and see if the pressure releases. If it works, speak with this feeling of yawn in the back of your mouth and plug your nose occasionally to make sure the sound isn't stuck there. You can read below as I have given other suggestions before.
R SOUNDS LIKE W
Question: My 10 year old son continues to say his "r's" as "w's". He is a straight A student, scored the highest in math and reading on the national academic achievement test but he can't learn to say his "r's" properly.He has a passion for acting and his acting teacher has told him he needs to work on his "r's" He has seen a speech pathologist for a total of 3 years since he was 3...What can I do to help him get quick results?
Answer: I doubt I can tell you anything a speech therapist hasn't already worked with and changing these kinds of patterns can take time. It is important to stay relaxed, playful and positive, to observe how your son works and to assure him in any way you can. That being said, here is something to try: "R" is formed by raising the tip of the tongue toward the gum of the front teeth (but not touching). Since "W" is made by rounding the lips, if he can avoid involving the lips he might be able to distinguish the "r" from the "w." Have your son practice smiling broadly and moving his tongue up and down without moving his lips. Next, say the vowel "ah" with a smile (which will draw the lips to the side). Now say "ah" while raising the tip of tongue without moving the lips. This movement should result in an "r" and if the tongue is kept in this position while the vowel is sustained it might even become a rolled "r." Try to speak words that begin with a "ree," "ray" or "ra" sound. Avoid "o" or "oo" words until later as they cause the lips to round. Perhaps it would help to use a mirror so your son can see when his lips round. Later, when the movement of the tongue is mastered the lips will become involved again. I do recommend you seek out a speech therapist again -- someone playful and passionate who can make the art of speaking as compelling as acting.
HOW TO DEEPEN THE VOICE
Question: How could I deepen my voice for a school play?
Answer: You must always be very careful when attempting to lower the voice, especially when you are young. Find other ways to develop and portray the character -- through posture, movement and attitude. Then you don't have to alter the voice as much to be believable in the role. Rather than working alone, work with a voice coach to develop the character's voice.
SINGING AND SPEAKING
Question: I have two problems: I need to have a deeper speaking voice for a character I need to play on stage, and second, I have a great singing voice live, but when it is recorded, I sound like I have a clogged nose and my falsetto sounds like Miss Piggy. Any ideas?
Answer: These are issues you should address with a teacher. Lowering the voice can cause damage and you will need to work very intelligently to develop the physical support and resonance rather than pushing the larynx low or digging too deeply into the vocal cords. If you sound like you have a clogged nose you need to check the positions of the tongue and soft palate. Try working with o and u vowels to develop a less nasal tone. Consider staying in your legitimate voice rather than shifting into falsetto.
TRAUMA AND THE VOICE
Question: I am a 35 year old woman who sounds like a 5 year old. I am also a high school teacher in the city. Needless to say, my voice has hurt me in many ways- professionally and personally. I have gone through one type of speech therapy program which did not help. Do you have any advice or can you refer me to someone? A psychiatrist said my high voice is related to my fast speaking. I am very nervous and anxious. She also said that I need to go through therapy because it is related to trauma I suffered as a child. Could this be true? Any advice would be appreciated.
Answer: Yes, it definitely can be true that we develop vocal and speech patterns as the result of trauma; nervous tension can also create a high pitched or squeaky voice. Notice whether or not you breathe shallowly or even hold your breath as well. If you begin to change and deepen the breath and the voice, emotions will release. Having therapeutic support in combination with the voice work would be ideal. You have to be prepared for a process that will unfold over time. It is easier to make incremental changes and integrate them into our lives rather than fast and jarring changes that can feel like another trauma. In this case, you might find singing more effective than speech therapy. Look for a voice coach with training in music therapy.
SORE ADAMS APPLE
Question: Hello. I have been having pain in my adams apple. I am a singer, and I have strained the muscles in my neck due to over use. It has been going on for a couple of months. Is pain in the adams apple common?
Answer: No. Pain in the Adams Apple is not common. You should see a laryngologist to determine what muscle(s) have been strained. Once you know the condition of the cords and other muscles you should work with a voice coach or speech therapist to retrain the mechanism to healthy, pain-free function. Don't postpone! Look after this right away before it becomes chronic. Early on, the road to health is short but with time it can become very difficult.
STAMMER
Question: I am 29 and have a covert stammer. I also have a very high pitched voice. Do you think if I can change my way of speaking and speak deeper this will also help my stammer?
Answer: I don't know that the pitch and the stammer are related. I also would not rule it out. Whether there is a relationship between the two or not, vocal work can certainly help both. I have addressed how to lower the pitch of the voice in answers to earlier questions and I encourage you to try those suggestions. To reduce the stammer, I recommend working with a speech therapist and focusing especially on the breath. You might also work very briefly and in a very focused way with a therapist to investigate any relationship between emotions and the stammer. If you can get recommendations, your insurance may cover the cost of both therapists.
UNCLEAR AND MISUNDERSTOOD
Question: My voice is not clear. People don't understand what I am saying, and sometimes even I don't understand what I am saying. Maybe I have a thick tongue, but I know every problem has a solution. Please help me know how to make my voice thinner and clear.
Answer: I heard once that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body and in my experience as a coach I have found it can also be the most tense. Press the tongue against the roof of the mouth as hard as you can to make it tired. After this it should feel more relaxed. To develop dexterity, form your lips into a small circle as though you are going to say "ooh," anf then roll the sides of the tongue up toward the roof of the mouth and stick it out through your lips. Also try to touch the tip of the nose and the lower chin with your tongue. If you want practice making consonants, you can order the Vocal Tune-Up CD -- I'm afraid it is too much to share here. Also, read answers to other questions to get advice for other elements that contribute to clarity. Keep your faith!
AT WIT'S END
Question: I'm a 40 year old man. I have a high toned voice, very nasal. I have listened to people mimic the way I sound in a derogatory manner. Are there any natural ways to deepen the sound of my voice without sounding like I'm forcing it? I'm at my wit's end and I'm considering surgery you,Chicago.
Answer: I am aware there are some vocal pathologies that can only be corrected with surgery and only a doctor could tell you what condition you might have to require such a measure. However, I do recommend you try working with a speech therapist first because most nasality and pitch issues can be corrected with practice. Meanwhile, you can work to make sure that your tongue is wide in the bottom of your mouth and that it is touching your bottom front teeth -- not pulled back or raised high. Also, make "ooh" and "oh" sounds. They are usually less nasal than other sounds and you can use them to help. Start with a not nasal "ooh" and slowly switch to a sound that is more nasal, perhaps "ay." See if you can get the "ay" sound to feel more like the "ooh" by moving the back of the tongue as little as possible. Go back and forth a number of times. Also check to make sure your larynx doesn't raise when you speak by touching the "Adams Apple" lightly. Expanding the lower ribs as you inhale and keeping them expanded as you speak can help to take the pressure off and make it easier to keep the larynx low. Also read other answers below as I have addressed these issues before. Most importantly, don't give up.
TIGHT VOICE
Question: Is there someone you would recommend to me if I wanted to slightly change a certain tightness, for lack of a better word, in my voice? Example: my "r" sound can sound hard to me me when I hear myself back on a recorder. In general my voice just sounds tight to me at times, as though I pronounce my consonants more than I'd like to, unless I'm doing a breathy voice. But I don't want to compromise strength in order to sound softer. I spent the first 8 years of my life in upstate New York and I think I have some sort of lingering accent even though I've lived in California for most of my life. Thanks!
Answer: You are absolutely right -- getting breathy is not a good option. There are many reasons a voice can sound tight but since you have noted consonants are an issue for you, I'll focus my answer on them. Tension in what we call the articulators (the tongue, lips, jaw) can cause the voice to sound tight. You can do some tongue trills (like a rolled "r") and lip trills (blowing air through slightly pursed lips so they vibrate) and wiggle your lower jaw to loosen things up. Also check to see if the back of your neck is tight. You can use self massage and neck rolls to release it. When you form consonants the trick is to make them as efficient as possible. Think of them being small and involving very little movement as well as being crisp and supported by expanded ribs and open posture. As for "r" try emphasizing the vowel that comes before it and just barely making the "r" sound. Tart would sound almost like taught until the last moment. You will sound a bit affected at first, but with a little repetition you can master the art of a less harsh "r." Work with a voice coach or speech therapist will definitely support you. You can also think about whether or not you are a high energy or even anxious person. To modify that you could work with a life coach, a therapist or a spiritual advisor. You could also practice meditation or yoga.
RECOVERY
Question: How can I get my normal voice back if I have a strained voice?
Answer: The first thing you need to do is see a laryngologist (a doctor who specializes in the voice) to determine the cause and seriousness of the strain. You may need medical treatment or vocal rest or both. You can get a referral from your general physician and it should be covered by your health insurance. Then you need to work with a voice therapist or a coach with experience in healing from vocal strain. If the doctor recommends voice therapy you may be able to get it covered by your insurance as well. In the meantime, drink THROAT COAT TEA (available at any health food store), avoid all menthol and eucalyptus lozenges, steam, drink as much water as you can, and use your voice as little as possible. Don't whisper -- speaking quietly is better. Also, don't shout or speak for long periods of time.
CLEAR AND STRONG
Question: My voice is not clear. Some times it becomes low in volume and ambiguous. I am facing a problem in interviews for a job due to this. How can I make my voice clear and strong? Please help me.
Answer: It is difficult to give technical help in this format, but here's something fun that often helps. Children happy at play usually have clear and strong voices. They also have that vital full of life energy that serves well at a job interview. So I'm going to recommend you play with some sounds that children make:
* Make a nasty "a" sound like in the words "hat" or "cat" and in a teasing high voice say, "na na na na na na -- you can't catch me."
* Think of the delighted squeel of a child coming down a slide or on a swing and say "weeeeeeee" in a high voice while throwing your arms up.
* You should feel the vibrations of these sounds in your head and face. Now practice talking and creating those same qualities as you speak. Obviously, it will be exaggerated but it will help you find an energized voice.
* You can also help yourself by reading the answer to the following question about a "Command Voice." Believe in yourself! You can do it!
COMMAND VOICE
Question: I am a female in the military who sometimes needs to speak in a command voice. My voice is high pitched. I want to figure out how to be loud enough without sounding annoying.
Answer: I hope you can follow this and remember, the single most important thing is to NOT strain the voice. High pitches can be more acoustically efficient so the sound will travel well and be heard. To make the sound fuller and more complete, the voice needs to be supported from the lower ribs and to be completely unconstrained by the tongue or throat muscles. The larynx should also stay in its low position rather than raising. So here's what you do. Place your hands on your lower ribs and feel them expand as you inhale. Now speak loudly and try to feel that they continue to expand or at least stay open for the duration. Also, make sure your tongue isn't pulling back into the throat. Once you have the ribs working and the tongue released, touch your larynx very lightly. You can tell where it is by the little bump we call the Adams Apple. Make sure it stays in place rather than raising when you speak loudly. If it doesn't at first, just keep trying until you figure it out. It's a little like shooting baskets -- eventually you get the coordination together and the ball goes through the hoop. Let me know how it goes!
CHANGING VOICE
Question: I'm a 16 year old male, my voice is very high and tithers at the end of some words in a sort of drawl which, for lack of a better word, makes me sound "gay." Sometimes when I speak my voice is extremly soft and high and I cannot be heard, especially in noisey classrooms. I dread being asked to speak or read out loud. Will my voice deepen as I age? Am I a late developer? Is there any way to lower my voice?
Answer: I suspect your voice is still in the process of changing; a doctor is the best person to determine where you are in that process and can recommend whether or not work with a voice therapist is indicated. During puberty the voice is very vulnerable and it's important not to stress it by forcing it. The voice can always be worked with to sound in it's proper range and if it is meant to sound lower you can definitely achieve that. I have heard hundreds of gay men and there is no one vocal timbre that applies to them; as an identifier this communicates less about the voice than it does about other fears. It is very sad to live in a culture of cruelty whether it is because one is a late bloomer or because of sexuality. Work with the guidance counselor at school to get support for yourself and from teachers. This will pass and you can definitely develop a strong beautiful voice with which to speak your gifts into life.
BREATHY LAUGH
Question: I don't like my laugh because it is very breathy. Can this be changed? If so, who would be the best type of person to help me change this?
Answer: Yes, you can change your laughing pattern. I can't give you specific advice because the first step is to observe what happens physically to cause the breathiness when you laugh. Once you know that you can decide what to change. You should be able to get help from any voice practitioner who understands breath management and the relationship between the breath and the way the vocal cords come together to produce the sound. You can try speech therapists and/or voice coaches and interview them; ask how they would go about it and why that would work. Choose the person who gives you a plausible answer and then be patient. Changing something like the way you laugh could be a fascinating process and it might also bring up some surprising issues.
VOICE TOO HIGH
Question: A male friend of mine, aged 30, has a high pitched voice which is making him appear to be 'gay', which he is not. It is also stopping him from getting jobs. What can he do about it? Unfortunately he has little money to spend on speech therapy. I would be very grateful for any help you can give this young man.
Answer: Unfortunately this isn't an easy question to answer. Lowering the pitch of the voice has to be done only if it is healthy and appropriate for the voice, and then it must be worked at very carefully. One has to learn what is causing the voice to be too high and the correction for the issue would be different in each case. Your friend really needs to find someone who will work with him and allow him to record the exercises so that he can practice on his own. Discrimination against any people creates pain for all of us and the cure for that is not in the voice but in consciousness.
Question: I WORK WITH SOMEONE WHOSE VOICE IS TOO LOUD. I CANNOT LISTEN TO HIM BECAUSE THE NOISE LEVEL HURTS MY EARS. WHAT CAN I DO TO TRY AND GET HIM TOO REALISE HOW LOUD HE IS.
Answer: Honesty and kindness are the best policy. Treat this as though it is your issue, tell this person you have a hearing sensitivity (which in this case is true), and say: "I don't suppose you could speak a little less loudly to help me out, could you?" If this is a high energy person, you can preface it by acknowledging how dynamic he is. If he is hard of hearing you might need to consider that he needs to speak loudly in order to hear himself. In this case, he might not know how loud he is and you might just ask, "Do you know how loudly you are speaking?" Then again, explain the sensitivity of your ears and ask if he can speak less loudly. If his personality is such that he is just a blow hard or a bully, you might have to go through HR or other channels available to you to get support in addressing the issue.
I LOSE MY VOICE QUICKLY
Question: I lose my voice very quickly--especially if I've been talking a lot. At parties and loud gatherings, I strain to talk and people complain they can't hear me although my normal talking voice is not soft. Are there vocal or breathing excercises I can do to help strengthen my voice?
Answer: Yes, there are exercises you can do to strengthen your voice. Since you fatigue easily and need to be careful, I recommend you work with a voice specialist. Meanwhile, in noisy situations, don't speak to anyone you can't touch, and speak right into their ear so you don't have to strain.
LOUD SPEAKER
Question: I speak VERY loudly sometimes at home and work. How can I lower my voice and still be heard?
Answer: Sometimes people who have hearing problems speak very loudly without realizing it. You might need to have your hearing tested or learn how to speak without hearing yourself as well as you're accustomed to.
However, if your hearing is good, you might speak loudly because you are a high energy person. In this case, you can use your breath to help you out. Program yourself to take a mindful breath before you speak and decide to speak more quietly. Imagine there is a child sleeping in the next room that you don't want to awaken.
If you have a naturally large and resonant voice it is a wonderful thing. Speaking more quietly means being aware of how you are speaking as well as what you are speaking. Since the quality of vocal sound actually communicates more than the content of the words, we all need to be mindful of how we are speaking.
NASALITY AND HIGH PITCH
Question:I am a public speaker. My voice is nasally and high pitched. What can I do to change it?
Answer: Nasality often results from the back of the tongue being raised excessively high. If you plug your nose and sound an "ah" vowel sound while lowering the back of the tongue, you will be able to tell when the sound is no longer nasal. You can do this with all of the vowel sounds -- "oh" and "ooh" might be easiest to get rid of nasality while it can be harder with "ee" or "ay" sounds as the back of the tongue actually needs to be a little higher to form these sounds. Lowering the pitch of your voice is a more complicated issue and I recommend you work with a voice specialist to be certain you don't stress the voice. Perhaps once the nasality is gone, you will find you have more access to resonance in the chest and with the fuller sound your voice won't sound too high.
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