A peek behind the scenes! An actor in a play I am vocal coaching got very sick and therefore hoarse. They asked for suggestions, and I wanted to share them with you.
continue readingWhat’s all this about using a straw for voice?
Using drinking straws to enhance voice has become quite a trend. The exercise can have many benefits for voice, which we will discuss in future posts.
For now, I want to drop a short audio file here to get you started playing with the straw kazoo exercise, with more details to come. Enjoy!
If you’d like personalized instruction on working with the straw, or anything else relating to voice, speech, or presence, reach out for a session!
Busting a myth about vocal injuries
When a pro athlete has a knee injury, fans don’t jump to the conclusion that they must have poor running technique. Yet when a professional singer gets a vocal cord injury, it’s a different matter. Let’s shed a little light about what a vocal injury does and doesn’t mean.
contine reading3 tips for projecting your voice
Being heard over background noise, or in a large or outdoor place, requires specific techniques. Surprisingly, loudness is only one component of projection. A well-placed voice can be heard better than you might think, with a couple extra tweaks.
continue readingThe practice of practice: 3 tips to make the most of your time
We all know the old joke: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice!
Whether you are learning voice and speech skills, a new sport, how to play an instrument, meditation, cooking, knitting or anything else physical, the practice of practice is the key to your success.
The way we practice is even more important than how much time we spend. Research about the brain, cognitive science and motor learning in particular, have taught us a few key concepts:
continue readingNo, a hoarse voice isn’t normal
A friend recently messaged me saying her voice was changing, and had become raspy. She wanted to know if that was normal for someone in their mid-50s.
Nope.
continue reading