Simple Exercises To Improve The Quality Of Your Voice

Developing vocal intonation and diction can be a life-long task. However, you can improve the quality of your speaking voice in a short time, with a few simple exercises.

Hum
One of the easiest ways to improve the quality of your voice. To see how well it works, speak a sentence in your normal voice. Then hum for five minutes. Hum so your lips vibrate. Hum high, hum low. Then speak the same sentence again. You’ll notice a cleaner, more forward sound. That’s the natural sound and placement of your voice.

Yawn
Yawn with sound. Open your mouth and throat as if yawning and repeat the word ‘mood’ distinctly three times, pitched as low as you can without growling. Feel the ‘oo’ sound coming from your chest. This vowel opens your throat. Now, with your throat open in that position, say the word ‘nice’ three times; then ‘mood’ three times; and ‘nice’ three times. Repeat this ten times.

Now say ‘mood’ three times; with the throat in the ‘oo’ position say the words ‘early’, then ‘regular,’ ‘Mary,’ ‘pie,’ ‘fancy’ and ‘three.’ Always say ‘mood’ first and be sure to pronounce distinctly. This exercise takes the shrillness and nasal quality out of any voice and make it mellow.

Follow it up with some facial stretching – smile hard, then relax. Open your face as if to scream, hold for a second, then relax. Finish up with some gentle head rolls. A relaxed face and neck is a necessary vessel for a relaxed, assertive voice.

Work your T’s (a waste for Americans to follow it, haha)
Enunciation is generally the weakest element in our speech. We assume that the way we pronounce words in regular conversation is sufficient for public speaking. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Listening to David Allen present his GTD material, I am constantly distracted because he pronounces the word ‘important’, ‘impordant’. Substituting ‘D’ for ‘T’ is one of the most common mistakes speakers make—’notice’ becomes ‘nodice’ and ‘little’ becomes ‘liddle’.

Singers have a simple exercise they use to improve enunciation. They sing the phrase, “the tip of the tongue, the teeth the lips.” Say that phrase repeatedly, at ever increasing speed. Focus on keeping each of the words clear and distinct. You don’t need much—small changes make a big difference.

Breath
Breathing is the support for our speaking voice. If you are anxious and your breathing is tight the quality of your voice will suffer. Simple breathing exercises will change your speech and help you relax.

Sit down. Lean forward and place your forearms on your knees. Take a slow, deep and noiseless breath though your mouth. Expand your waistline as you fill with air, but do not raise your shoulders. Sit back straight and repeat the exercise.

Stand straight with your arms relaxed at your sides. Inhale slowly through your nose, with your throat open. As you breath in, count to four slowly and raise your arms until they meet over your head. Lower your hands with a slow count to four, exhaling with a hissing ‘S’ sound.