Clenching or grinding the teeth can be related to various physical problems, but I’m interested in it because it can mess with voice and speech! So let’s look at why we do it and, most importantly, how to stop.
continue readingStressed? Try humming for health
Yep, simply humming can affect your body and mood. I’m going to discuss a little of the data, and then give you a simple way to play with it on your own.
None of this is surprising, really, when we consider the widespread use of sound waves in Western medicine. Ultrasound is a vital non-invasive diagnostic tool, and sound waves are frequently used to treat tumors, kidney stones, broken bones, blood clots, and so much more.
continue readingAlways clearing your throat? Here’s help.
Chronic throat clearing can cause throat irritation and hoarseness. There are several possible reasons you might be clearing your throat a lot. Typically it is due either excess mucus or irritation of your vocal cords. Those can come from a variety of sources. Let’s break them down.
continue readingDo you have a weak vocal cord?
Vocal fold weakness (technically called paresis) is a surprisingly common problem, and it can go untreated because it can be difficult to diagnose.
continue readingExamining habits
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” (Aristotle)
The way we speak is habitual. The concept of habit runs deeply through the work of voice and speech training. This is especially true in theatre, where the idea moves beyond speech into other elements affecting actors’ performance.
In this post, we are simply dipping a toe into the basics of habits: what they are, why we need them, and how to change them if we wish.
continue readingFifty blog posts on voice, speech, accents, and presence
I just learned that I have made 50 posts on this page over the past few years. These posts cover everything from “diaphragmatic” breathing to allergies to vocal health/injuries to projection to learning accents to hoarseness to owning a room. In case you missed any, here’s a complete list:
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