Most people want to show up as authentic and genuine. Part of this perception comes from what we say, and part from what we do. In communication, we often overlook the vital role of listening.
contiinue readingCalm your body and mind in two minutes
Inhale for 4 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds. Do this for two minutes.
That’s it.
Now let’s talk about why that works.
continue readingVideo: How to manage stage fright
I teach voice and dialects at a training center called Acting Studio Chicago. They recently asked me to turn my blog post Kick “stage fright” to the curb in three simple steps into a 1 minute teacher tip video.
continue readingClassical Singer Magazine reviews our second edition of “The Voice Book”
Click on image to “look inside”
Continue readingIs your speaking voice too high?
The short answer is: probably not.
When people say they want their voice to sound lower, what they typically mean is that they want their voice to feel more resonant, warm, rich, and potent. Read on to learn how depth and richness are not necessarily related to a lower pitch, even though that’s how it might appear on the surface.
continue readingYour “tone” might be making you look bad at work
“Don’t use that tone with me!”
“Your performance is good, but there is an issue with your tone.”
“Did you hear that tone in his voice?!”
We communicate tons of information with the tone of our voice. It’s so powerful that if there is incongruence between the tone we use and the words we say, people will believe the tone over the words. Imagine all the ways someone might say, “I’m fine” in a tone that makes it clear they are not, in fact, fine.
A lot of people find their way to me as a coach because they have gotten feedback about their tone being a problem. Let’s look at what that means and how you might choose to adjust it.
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