The Voice

When we breathe, air is forced from the lungs and passes over the vocal cords. The vocal cords vibrate producing sound.

Some aspects of your voice are changeable. Some are not. What can we change?

Qualities of Voice

• range
• pitch
• timbre

Qualities of Voice

• resonance
• diaphragmatic breathing
• projection
• articulation
• regional accents

Resonance

• Depends on the openness & flexibility of the mouth & throat
• Head colds change voice
• Good resonance produces: warmth, richness, and beauty
• How to improve?
• > good breathing, relax jaw, throat yawn, sing, hold vowels 

Breath Control

• stand straight - give lungs room to fill
• inhale briefly through mouth - not nose
• exhale slowly as you speak
• exhale longer than inhale

Ways to Create Meaning

• pause or emphasis
• rate
• rhythm
• volume
• pitch and/or inflection

To Tell a Story

Projection

• Voice must carry 
• correct breathing
• enunciate
• relaxation is key(throat & jaws)
• to relax - hum, yawn, exhale quickly

Projection continued

• breath from diaphram
• open mouth wider
• Recap: relax, breath, open mouth

Quick Tips on Enunciation

• Relax jaw, open mouth wide
• Close your mouth on consonant sounds

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