Do you warm up your voice? If you don’t, you should. Good speech takes muscle. And just as your leg muscles work better if you warm them up before a run, so will your speech muscles work better if you warm them up at the start of your day. Your voice will sound better and stronger. Your articulation will become more clear and crisp. You’ll be easier to understand. And as you strengthen your speech muscles, you’ll be able to talk longer without vocal fatigue.

While warming up the voice is important for those who speak a lot, it’s also important for those who don’t. Some people have solitary jobs where they hardly speak at all, such as computer programmers, artists or writers. If the vocal cords are under used, they may actually begin to weaken and atrophy.

Try this short vocal warm up to get your voice ready for the day. Here’s how it works. Before you begin, drink a glass of warm water. Then, follow the exercises as listed. While doing the warm up, if your throat becomes sore or your voice feels strained, stop immediately. Work up gradually until you can comfortably do the entire exercise. And of course, if you have persistent hoarseness, weakness or any kind of throat or voice problem, please let us know.

Try these 5 times each, once each day (or before your presentation):

Relaxed breathing, long and slow, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Your belly should rise upon inhalation and flatten as you exhale. Repeat 5 times.
Prolong the “s” sound (“ssss”), first softly and then loudly, for as long as you can in one breath. Don’t strain yourself! Repeat 3 times.
Produce a siren with the word “WHO”, softly, starting with a low pitch and gliding to a high pitch. No reverse it and glide from a high pitch to a low pitch. The goal is no voice breaks (in other words, don’t sound like you’re going through puberty). Repeat 3 times.
Hum lightly, attaching the word “me” to it. (mmmmm—me me me me me). Repeat 3 times. Now chant “mmmm” and attach a ‘count’ to it. Count to 10. (“mmm-one”, “mmm-two”…).
Hum lightly before each of the following sentences:
mmmm—Have an apple for lunch, Dan, but mind your manners.
mmmm—We ate pancakes, pineapples and black beans at the campfire.
mmmm—The English Patient was a wonderfully romantic movie.
mmmm—You’ll make my mother angry if you sing off tune.
mmmm—I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn’t itch

mmmm—Eat each green pea. Aim straight at the game. Ed said get ready.

mmmm—Flip a coin, Roy, you have a choice of oysters or poi.
mmmm—Sheep shears should be sharp.

mmmm—Thoughtful thinkers think things through.

Ellen Dunnigan
Accent On Business
ellen@accentonbusiness.net

Lou Heckler, the 2009 recipient of the Cavett Award, NSA’s highesthonor in the speaking profession, will address how to create a simple template that you can use over and over again with any speech, workshop or seminar. Key areas Lou Heckler will cover: using stories to enrich and clarify your message, including the one element that every story needs; delivering your speech in a compelling way that keeps audience members on the edge of their seats; making the audience feel like they are on the stage with you! This workshop is open to the public. Cost: In advance – $39/members and $59/guests. At the door – $49/members and $69/guests. For more information and to register for this workshop, go to www.nsa-indianaspeakers.com or call 317-430-9100.

Contact information:

Jean Palmer Heck

NSA:Indiana – the positive place for speakers!

www.nsa-indianaspeakers.com

317-430-9100

Carrie Lambert
Administrative Support
NSA:Indiana
317-430-9100
carrieannelambert@gmail.com