Voice Trainer

Happy World Voice Day 2016!

World Voice Day is celebrated annually on April 16. It is an international observance encouraging people to assess their vocal health and take action to improve or maintain good voice habits. It has been celebrated since 2002. This year’s theme is “Explore your voice! Imagine where it will take you”.

Consider:

How is your voice produced?
Can you learn to make your voice sound better?
How should your voice feel?
How can you prevent vocal injury?
Can you maintain a lifetime of healthy voice?
Is your voice meeting your daily demands?
Can you minimize fatigue effects on your voice?

Voice is vital to all persons. Become aware of the role your voice plays in your life. Even with changes in technology, voice use has not lessened, and will likely continue to increase with voice recognition software technologies.

World Voice Day resources:

http://voicetrainer.com/

http://world-voice-day.org/

http://www.entnet.org/WorldVoiceDay

*April 10-16 is Oral Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week*

http://www.headandneck.org/get-involved/ohancaw

Contact Voicetrainer to discuss your voice concerns and goals. We can be reached at 202-580-6646 or laura@voicetrainer.com for questions or to schedule an appointment.

Caring for Your Voice in the Fall & Winter

This time of year your voice may take an extra beating with the dry air conditions, and rampant colds and flu. What are you to do? Well some attention to daily voice care may be just what the doctor ordered to keep your voice in tip-top shape.

For optimal performance, the vocal folds are very dependent upon hydration, not only to be set into vibration, but also to maintain vibration. Otherwise voice breaks and strain tend to develop. Also, even during illness, the preference is to keep the vocal folds vibrating, gently and without strain to minimize swelling and prolonged impacts from laryngitis.

Here are some tips to help your voice thrive this season:

Hydrate: Use water frequently and throughout the day. Sips are preferred over massive consumption all at once. Cold, warm, tap or bottled does not really matter, whatever helps you to get it down. Use a large glass or sports bottles, and carry it with you.
Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol: Caffeine and alcohol both have drying effects on the voice. If you prefer not to eliminate entirely, at least alternate with water.
Non-mentholated Lozenges: Water is best, but sometimes a non-mentholated lozenge or piece of hard candy can do the trick providing additional lubrication. These can be used throughout the day, and are recommended 5-10 minutes before a presentation or performance. Some to try include: Grether’s pastilles, Hall’s Breezers, Smith Brothers, Pine Brothers, Wedderspoon manuka honey, Luden’s, Werther’s, etc.
Treat Fall allergies: Allergies are problematic for some at this time of year. The associated inflammation and drainage can interfere with voice function. Try to avoid overly drying decongestants. Consider saline rinse, sips of club soda/sparkling water to clear accumulated throat secretions, and consult your physician on appropriate management.
Steam Inhalation: Use of a steam inhaler 1-2 xs/day for 5-10 minutes each can be very soothing, especially in the setting of dryness, congestion, or irritation. Vick’s is the most common brand available in our region, and it’s easy to clean. 10 minutes seems like a lot at first, but relax and enjoy it.
Physical Rest: Making sure you get enough sleep will maximize vocal performance and endurance. Your voice will only be as good as you feel!
Voice Rest: Extended voice rest is typically only recommended following vocal surgery and vocal hemorrhage. However, brief intermittent periods of voice rest incorporated throughout the day as you use your voice can help to minimize fatigue effects on your voice.
Voice Exercises: A routine of exercises designed for vocal warm-up and cool-down can be designed for you by a speech pathologist.
Physician: See a physician if your voice difficulties persist beyond 2 weeks.

A vocal hygiene and vocal exercise routine can be very beneficial in maximizing your daily voice potential. Contact Voicetrainer LLC for further questions or to schedule an appointment at laura@voicetrainer.com or 202-580-6646.

~LPV

Why do voters select leaders with lower-pitched voices?

On NPR’s August 14^th Science Friday show, Ira Flatow interviewed Casey Klofstad and me about whether a man or woman with a lower pitched voice is more likely to be elected President. Dr. Klofstad’s latest study http://goo.gl/vk5xLj found that voters prefer leaders with lower-pitched voices because they are perceived as stronger, having greater physical prowess, more competent, and having greater integrity. I agree that a lower pitch is much more liked by audiences, but that the pitch must have some variability, because a lower-pitched voice with little variability can sound monotonous and boring as evidenced by Mitt Romney’s voice http://goo.gl/gG10LB.

In working with voice clients, I find that speakers often try to lower their pitch by speaking at the bottom of their pitch range and putting too much muscle strain into producing sound, which can cause the voice to fatigue and not project well. When our bodies and throats are relaxed and we use breath from below, we can be nearer the lower end of our two octave pitch range without excessive effort. As we know, when we become tense, use shallow breathing and raise our shoulders to help project our voices, our throat tightens, our pitch rises, and our voice often becomes shrill and nasal. As speakers, our goal should be to use a relaxed voice and vary our pitch several notes up and down as we speak so that our pitch is lower, our voice has more intonation, and sounds more natural.

Leave a voice memo on your smart phone and listen to it. If your pitch is high, strained or shrill, try to breathe from your lower rib cage and relax your throat and jaw so that your sound is perceived as lower and more resonant. You are likely to be perceived as more competent in the office.

Contact Voicetrainer LLC 202-580-6646 if you are interested in maximizing your impact through pitch and vocal variety.

~SM