Here are some tips relevant to all the exercises in the course:
We’ll be covering posture in more detail later, but for now when on the upright chair in your quiet space just aim to feel balanced and relaxed. So:
When practising elsewhere, sit or stand in a way that feels equally balanced and relaxed.
Breathing normally will give you all the breath you need for the exercises, just as it does when you speak.
Breathe through your nose if at all possible. First, it is healthier: it prevents your mouth and larynx drying out, nose hairs filter out airborne particles, and during its passage up the nose the air is warmed before reaching your mouth. It is also more helpful than mouth breathing for keeping the focus of your voice in your head.
Unless directed otherwise, start all the exercises on a note somewhere comfortably in the middle of your vocal range.
You might like to use an app to identify and store suitable notes to use.
Note: Most people think the middle of their voice is lower than it actually is, so go for a note a bit higher than you first thought.
Do all the exercises quietly. If you turn the volume up too much early on you’re very likely to force your voice from your throat.
In the exercises you will be using visualizations of how your voice is working. This may not (or may) be an accurate description of what is actually happening physiologically, but does not need to be. The great power of intention, thought and visualization in creating desired outcomes has long been understood by successful people and is increasingly being recognized by mainstream science.
Visualizations come very naturally to some people but not others. You may see images in your ‘mind’s eye’ while doing the exercises, and find that helpful. Or you may remember an image but not actually see it. Or having taken on board the meaning of the image you may want to ignore it while actually doing the exercise and just concentrate on what you’re doing.
The visualizations are simply there to help you, so use them as you wish.
It’s good to avoid external distractions during your practice, but self-generated distractions can be helpful.
If you are someone who tends to ‘live in their head’, thinking a lot and possibly worrying quite a lot too, you may apply too much brain power to the voice exercises – which are really far more about feeling than thinking.
If that’s you, then you might find that keeping some of your brain busy with a simple, repetitive physical task such as bouncing a ball or tossing it from hand to hand, or even just moving your arms around, will free up your voice.
The next section introduces you to the first voice exercises.
Q: Have you had experiences of the power of intention and visualization in other areas of your life?
Here are some tips relevant to all the exercises in the course:
We’ll be covering posture in more detail later, but for now when on the upright chair in your quiet space just aim to feel balanced and relaxed. So:
When practising elsewhere, sit or stand in a way that feels equally balanced and relaxed.
Breathing normally will give you all the breath you need for the exercises, just as it does when you speak.
Breathe through your nose if at all possible. First, it is healthier: it prevents your mouth and larynx drying out, nose hairs filter out airborne particles, and during its passage up the nose the air is warmed before reaching your mouth. It is also more helpful than mouth breathing for keeping the focus of your voice in your head.
Unless directed otherwise, start all the exercises on a note somewhere comfortably in the middle of your vocal range.
You might like to use an app to identify and store suitable notes to use.
Note: Most people think the middle of their voice is lower than it actually is, so go for a note a bit higher than you first thought.
Do all the exercises quietly. If you turn the volume up too much early on you’re very likely to force your voice from your throat.
In the exercises you will be using visualizations of how your voice is working. This may not (or may) be an accurate description of what is actually happening physiologically, but does not need to be. The great power of intention, thought and visualization in creating desired outcomes has long been understood by successful people and is increasingly being recognized by mainstream science.
Visualizations come very naturally to some people but not others. You may see images in your ‘mind’s eye’ while doing the exercises, and find that helpful. Or you may remember an image but not actually see it. Or having taken on board the meaning of the image you may want to ignore it while actually doing the exercise and just concentrate on what you’re doing.
The visualizations are simply there to help you, so use them as you wish.
It’s good to avoid external distractions during your practice, but self-generated distractions can be helpful.
If you are someone who tends to ‘live in their head’, thinking a lot and possibly worrying quite a lot too, you may apply too much brain power to the voice exercises – which are really far more about feeling than thinking.
If that’s you, then you might find that keeping some of your brain busy with a simple, repetitive physical task such as bouncing a ball or tossing it from hand to hand, or even just moving your arms around, will free up your voice.
The next section introduces you to the first voice exercises.
Q: Have you had experiences of the power of intention and visualization in other areas of your life?
