One of the biggest misconceptions I’ve heard about voice training is that voice training is to make you sound interesting.
That’s far from the real work on voice.
Sounding interesting is working on the tip of the iceberg. Without developing the huge potential that hides underneath the water, you will never realize the transformational power in your voice.
You do have a powerful voice inside. Everyone does. However, due to constricted breathing, improper use of vocal organs, and psychological reasons, you failed to realize the real power in your voice and ended up with a thin, weak and constricted voice.
1. Reality Check
What’s your knowledge about your own voice? What are the reactions you get from people about your voice?
- People have to lean forward to hear you.
- Your voice puts people into drowsiness and you can even see them glaze over when you speak for any length of time.
- Your voice may be described as nice or young, and you are not expected to say anything important or serious.
- Under pressure your voice might weaken, go higher or squeaky.
- Your voice pushes people back and is too loud and perhaps intrusive.
- You shout or yell when it’s crowded in a room.
- You get tired after using your voice for a couple of hours.
2. Freeing Your Voice
Your voice is housed in your body and any tension in your body could hinder your voice from being fully expressed. To release your tension, you need to understand where and how you hold your voice. Is it stuck in your voice box, or pulled back into your throat, or locked in your mouth? Or perhaps you have overworked your chest, your neck, your jaw and your tongue where you experience a feeling of something being held. A good voice is the result of effortless work and powered by diaphragmatic breathing.
3. Connecting with the Whole of You
Most people’s voice, probably yours, only travels from their throat and never gets in touch with more than that part of their body. That’s why your voice is thin, young and weak. It may not be the true reflection of who you are. To work on your voice and discover the real potential in your true, you must engage the whole of you, your whole being. First up, practice breathing with the support of your diaphragm. Allow the air goes freely into your body, and feel every cell of you being engaged, refreshed and connected.
(Read Every Breath You Take to learn more on diaphragmatic breathing.)
