Vocally Speaking—Warm-ups:
Just DO Them!
by Candice M. Coleman,
Ph.D.
Why
do those of us who use our voices for a living so often neglect to care
for them as we should? If we engage in some sport, we know that we have
to stretch and warm up to ensure that our muscles are flexible and ready
to do what we ask of them and to prevent injury. We should do the same
for our voices.
I’m often asked how long it should take to warm up. It depends on the person
and the conditions. In cold weather it may take longer. If you smoke (which
I’m sure no professional speaker or broadcaster would ever think of doing),
it will take longer. For most people, 10-20 minutes should do it. Many
of my clients warm up in the car on the way to the studio or presentation.
The following exercises are just a few of many.
| Yawn. Not a little one using
just your mouth, but a full-blown, full-bodied yawn. Open your mouth, scrunch
your face, stretch your arms over your head and really let go. Repeat standing
and get your whole body involved. Feel the movement of the abdominal muscles
as you breathe.
Focus on getting the blood
flowing in your face and throat. Make your face just as small and pinched
as you can–like a raisin. Close your eyes, purse your lips and frown. Now,
make it as large as you can. Eyes and mouth wide open, forehead up–like
a grape. Repeat a couple of times until you feel the “tingle.”
With the open-throated feeling
you had on the yawn, gently sustain an “ah” sound. Keep it focused and
listen for the “ring.” Don’t let the sound “gravel out” as you begin to
run out of breath (i.e., don’t try to get every last bit of air). Repeat
several times with increasing volume. Project the sound well, but don’t
shout. It should never hurt or feel as if the sound is coming from
your throat. Using that same open sound, change the pitch of the “ah.”
Slide up and down the scale as high and as low as you can go without strain–like
a siren. This will help to increase your pitch range so that your voice
won’t sound quite so flat, especially in the morning. |
Use
some tongue twisters to warm up the articulators (the lips, teeth, tongue,
jaw and soft palate). Repeat the following with increasing speed and exaggeration.
You’ll find yourself stumbling at some point, but that’s okay. Start again
and try to go further the next time.
| popping potato, popping
potato
David’s double bubble, David’s
double bubble
red leather, yellow leather
King Kong, King Kong, King
Kong
jump Charley, jump Charley,
jump Charley
wastes water, wastes water,
wastes water |
Almost
any tongue twister can be a good warm-up. There are several books devoted
to tongue twisters or develop your own.
Finally, make certain that you’re mentally warmed up as well. It’s easy
to fall into the habit of walking into the studio at 5:00 a.m., turning
on the microphone, and just start talking; or chatting at the cocktail
party before your keynote and walking right up to the platform and beginning
your first story.
However, remind yourself why you’re there. Who are you speaking for? What
are their needs this day or evening? What is the special thing which you
have to offer to your audience which they can’t get anywhere else? Remember
that your uniqueness as an individual is speaking directly to their uniqueness
as individuals. By keeping these thoughts in mind, communication is assured.
Candice M. Coleman works
with clients who want to improve their voices and communication skills
through presentations, coaching/consulting, and learning resources. Her
clients include professional speakers, broadcasters, business executives,
and many others. She is also the author of The Expressive Voice system,
a voice improvement program. She can be reached at 314-621-9228. Web site:
http://www.SayItWell.com.
Eight articles about the use of voice in announcing are included on this
web site.
© Say It Well! Inc.
2000.
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