Home
As an actor, you use your tone of voice to mirror the emotional state and physical well being of a character, but don't forget you use your voice every day! It's easy to relax (become lazy) and allow your voice to fall into a monotonous drone or even an annoying mumble. You must consciously use your voice to its best advantage, after all, would you take a mumbling monotone actor seriously? Get into the habit of exercising your tonal qualities by altering the tone of your voice for an unseen audience.
No matter who you are or what you do, chances are you need to use your voice most of the day. Everyone knows the importance of exercising the body but few people realize the voice needs exercise too. It is best to relax the body with simple self-massage and light stretching before doing vocal exercises. Perform these eleven quick and easy warm-ups in the privacy of your shower or wherever you feel comfortable to release physical and vocal tension.
Massage the base of your tongue, in the spongy area just behind your chin bone. Start by resting your index fingers on top of your chin. Drop your jaw, which will cause your mouth to open. While resting your index fingers on your chin, simultaneously use your thumbs to massage deeply into the base of your tongue. Do not reach too far back or you may vomit.
Release tension from your temporal mandibular joints. To find the joints, place your fingertips just by and in front of your ears on both sides of your face and open your mouth. The space that opens up as your jawbone moves is your temporal mandibular joint. Massage these joints using your fingertips or the palms of your hands. Release your jaw further and massage deeper with each exhale.
Stretch your tongue out of your mouth as far as you can in all directions.
Make as many funny faces as you can to exercise all of your facial muscles and stretch your cheeks.
Massage your neck and shoulders. It is also a good idea to add basic neck and shoulder rolls to loosen up.
Make some silly noises while shaking out your entire body or jumping up and down to let go of any other tense areas that may be stuck.
Yawn a few times to open up the back of the throat.
Hum holding any pitch for 10 or more seconds feeling a tingling sensation around your lips and nose.
Buzz your lips making a Brr sound. Start on any pitch. Then go up and down your vocal range.
Vocalize on an open ‘Ahh’ sound going up and down your range.
Sing or hum any song that uplifts or inspires you.
There are six vocal components: pitch, tone, tempo, rhythm, placement and dialect. Change any one and drastically alter the way you sound. Of these, tone is most important for conveying emotion.
Sound warm and friendly on cue
Step 1. Key word.
Find a key word that represents the tone of voice you wish to create and say it 3 times slowly, with as much feeling as you can muster. Use whatever key word is meaningful for you. A key word for a warm and friendly voice is tenderness. Say your key word aloud three times slowly with feeling. If it's a good key word, your voice should begin to soften.
Step 2. Mental image.
Focus on a mental image, which enhances the key word. What image does the word "tenderness" bring to mind for you? Are you holding a sleeping infant in your arms? Or are you you whispering into the ear of a lover, patting a pet?
Step 3. Body position
Adopt a body position consistent with the tone of voice you want to convey. The body position for a warm and friendly voice is relaxed. To help drain tension, inhale and consciously tense every muscle. Hold for a count of 5. Now exhale for a count of 10 feeling the tension drain from your body.
Step 4. Facial Expression.
The shape of your mouth and the expression on your face will shape the sound of your voice. One of the easiest ways to sound warm and friendly is to smile. A relaxed, gentle smile will do. If you do nothing else but smile while speaking, your voice will sound 90% warmer. Until you get the hang of smiling while speaking, practice by keeping a mirror by the telephone. Glance at yourself from time to time to make sure the expression on your face is pleasant as you speak.
How to Sound Authoritative on Cue
Step 1. Key word.
The key word for an authoritative voice is respect. Say it aloud three times with feeling: respect, respect, respect.
Step 2. Mental image.
As you say the word respect, what image comes to mind? Is it standing in front of a classroom with students are looking at you and listening attentively? If this image doesn't work for you, feel free to use your own. Focus on your authoritative mental image until it is big and bright in your mind.
Step 3. Body Position.
To assume an authoritative body position, sit or stand as straight as you can. Feel how the soles of your feet make contact with the ground. Say the word respect a few more times and gesture firmly, as if to emphasise a point.
Step 4. Facial expression.
Now, look in the mirror. For an authoritative voice, your mouth should be relaxed and neutral, but your eyes should be intense and focused. You should feel as if you are making eye contact with each person in this imaginary classroom.
No matter who you are or what you do, chances are you need to use your voice most of the day. Everyone knows the importance of exercising the body but few people realize the voice needs exercise too. It is best to relax the body with simple self-massage and light stretching before doing vocal exercises. Perform these eleven quick and easy warm-ups in the privacy of your shower or wherever you feel comfortable to release physical and vocal tension.
Massage the base of your tongue, in the spongy area just behind your chin bone. Start by resting your index fingers on top of your chin. Drop your jaw, which will cause your mouth to open. While resting your index fingers on your chin, simultaneously use your thumbs to massage deeply into the base of your tongue. Do not reach too far back or you may vomit.
Release tension from your temporal mandibular joints. To find the joints, place your fingertips just by and in front of your ears on both sides of your face and open your mouth. The space that opens up as your jawbone moves is your temporal mandibular joint. Massage these joints using your fingertips or the palms of your hands. Release your jaw further and massage deeper with each exhale.
Stretch your tongue out of your mouth as far as you can in all directions.
Make as many funny faces as you can to exercise all of your facial muscles and stretch your cheeks.
Massage your neck and shoulders. It is also a good idea to add basic neck and shoulder rolls to loosen up.
Make some silly noises while shaking out your entire body or jumping up and down to let go of any other tense areas that may be stuck.
Yawn a few times to open up the back of the throat.
Hum holding any pitch for 10 or more seconds feeling a tingling sensation around your lips and nose.
Buzz your lips making a Brr sound. Start on any pitch. Then go up and down your vocal range.
Vocalize on an open ‘Ahh’ sound going up and down your range.
Sing or hum any song that uplifts or inspires you.
There are six vocal components: pitch, tone, tempo, rhythm, placement and dialect. Change any one and drastically alter the way you sound. Of these, tone is most important for conveying emotion.
Sound warm and friendly on cue
Step 1. Key word.
Find a key word that represents the tone of voice you wish to create and say it 3 times slowly, with as much feeling as you can muster. Use whatever key word is meaningful for you. A key word for a warm and friendly voice is tenderness. Say your key word aloud three times slowly with feeling. If it's a good key word, your voice should begin to soften.
Step 2. Mental image.
Focus on a mental image, which enhances the key word. What image does the word "tenderness" bring to mind for you? Are you holding a sleeping infant in your arms? Or are you you whispering into the ear of a lover, patting a pet?
Step 3. Body position
Adopt a body position consistent with the tone of voice you want to convey. The body position for a warm and friendly voice is relaxed. To help drain tension, inhale and consciously tense every muscle. Hold for a count of 5. Now exhale for a count of 10 feeling the tension drain from your body.
Step 4. Facial Expression.
The shape of your mouth and the expression on your face will shape the sound of your voice. One of the easiest ways to sound warm and friendly is to smile. A relaxed, gentle smile will do. If you do nothing else but smile while speaking, your voice will sound 90% warmer. Until you get the hang of smiling while speaking, practice by keeping a mirror by the telephone. Glance at yourself from time to time to make sure the expression on your face is pleasant as you speak.
How to Sound Authoritative on Cue
Step 1. Key word.
The key word for an authoritative voice is respect. Say it aloud three times with feeling: respect, respect, respect.
Step 2. Mental image.
As you say the word respect, what image comes to mind? Is it standing in front of a classroom with students are looking at you and listening attentively? If this image doesn't work for you, feel free to use your own. Focus on your authoritative mental image until it is big and bright in your mind.
Step 3. Body Position.
To assume an authoritative body position, sit or stand as straight as you can. Feel how the soles of your feet make contact with the ground. Say the word respect a few more times and gesture firmly, as if to emphasise a point.
Step 4. Facial expression.
Now, look in the mirror. For an authoritative voice, your mouth should be relaxed and neutral, but your eyes should be intense and focused. You should feel as if you are making eye contact with each person in this imaginary classroom.