Description
Year THREE of short daily episodes to improve the quality of your speaking voice.
Through these around-5-minute episodes, you can build your confidence and competence with advice on breathing and reading, inflection and projection, the roles played by better scripting and better sitting, mic techniques and voice care tips... with exercises and anecdotes from a career spent in TV and radio studios. If you're wondering about how to start a podcast, or have had one for a while - download every episode!
And as themes develop over the weeks (that is, they are not random topics day-by-day), this is a free, course to help you GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VOICE OVER VOICE.
Look out for more details of the book during 2024.
Contacts: https://linktr.ee/Peter_Stewart
Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021, 2022, 2023 Peter Stewart
Peter has been around voice and audio all his working life and has trained hundreds of broadcasters in all styles of radio from pop music stations such as Capital FM and BBC Radio 1, the classical music station BBC Radio 3 and regional BBC stations. He’s trained news presenters on regional TV, the BBC News Channel and on flagship programmes such as the BBC’s Panorama.
He has written a number of books on audio and video presentation and production (see contacts clink above) and presented hundreds of radio shows (you may have heard him on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, Virgin Radio or Kiss, as well as BBC regional radio) with various formats. He has read tens of thousands of news bulletins and hosted 3,000+ podcast episodes.
The podcast title refers to those who may wish to change their speaking voice in some way. It is not a suggestion that anyone should, or be pressured into needing to. We love accents and dialects, and are well aware that how we speak changes over time. The key is: is your voice successfully communicating your message, so it is being understood (and potentially being acted upon) by your target audience?
This podcast is London-based and examples are spoken in the RP (Received Pronunciation) / standard-English / BBC English pronunciation, although invariably applicable to other languages, accents and dialects.
The 'Peter Stewart' show is perhaps of great interest to those in broadcast voice overs, the broadcast voice, how to start a voice podcast, broadcasting voice training, your speaking voice, breathing technique, and conversational speaking. You may also find it useful if you are searching for information on voice coaching, voice training, voice overs, podcasting, broadcasting, presenting, being a voice over actor and newsreading, audio branding, public speaking, the recorded voice, vocal tips, performance, vocal health education, vocal technique and voice over training.
Music credits: all Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
"Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- 2023 / 9 / 261000 - The End2023.09.27 - 1000 - The EndThanks for the loan of your ears, for one-thousand consecutive daily episodes. All of my contacts are here: https://linktr.ee/Peter_Stewart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
- 2023 / 9 / 250999 – The Diction-ary of Voice – V and W2023.09.26 – 0999 – The Diction-ary of Voice – V and W**VVerbal tic – the repeated use of words or phrases such as “like” or “y’know what I mean?”Velum – the soft palate at the back of the roof of the mouth....
- 2023 / 9 / 240998 – The Diction-ary of Voice – T2023.09.25 – 0998 – The Diction-ary of Voice – T**TTag (or ‘slogan’) – the branding phrase at the end of a commercial Take (as in ‘go for a take’) – a recording. Also see ‘pickup’Take a level (or ‘take a bit...
- 2023 / 9 / 230997 – The Diction-ary of Voice – S2023.09.24 – 0997 – The Diction-ary of Voice – S**SScratch Track - a temporary recording that is a ‘place-holder’ for the final voice-over. Not ‘broadcast quality’ it is used to help producers feel the pacing...
- 2023 / 9 / 220996 – The Diction-ary of Voice – R – Part 22023.09.23 – 0996 – The Diction-ary of Voice – R – Part 2Riding the gain (or ‘riding the mic’ or ‘riding the levels’) – the constant adjustment of the input levels as the sound unexpectedly (and often...
- 2023 / 9 / 210995 – The Diction-ary of Voice – R – Part 12023.09.22 – 0995 – The Diction-ary of Voice – R – Part 1**RRate – the speed of someone speaking or readingRate – the amount paid to a voice-over for a day, hour or scriptRaw audio - unprocessed recorded...
- 2023 / 9 / 200994 – The Diction-ary of Voice – P2023.09.21 – 0994 – The Diction-ary of Voice – P Polyp - usually unilateral (one vocal fold) mass that grows off the surface. Can be hemorrhagic (filled with blood) or not, and’s usually due to voice...
- 2023 / 9 / 190993 – The Diction-ary of Voice – P - Part 22023.09.20 – 0993 – The Diction-ary of Voice – P - Part 2 Pharynx – the area between the larynx and the nasal cavitiesPhonation – the process of making sounds into words, which articulation turns into...
- 2023 / 9 / 180992 – The Diction-ary of Voice – N and P2023.09.19 – 0992 – The Diction-ary of Voice – N and P **NName check – saying your name on airNarrative non-fiction – a true-story podcastNarrative voice - the voice you use for the...
- 2023 / 9 / 170991 – The Diction-ary of Voice – M2023.09.18 – 0991 – The Diction-ary of Voice – M Marking copy – different markings on a script (underlinings, arrows, circles) to show which words require different voice presentations such as...
- 2023 / 9 / 160990 – The Diction-ary of Voice – L2023.09.17 – 0990 – The Diction-ary of Voice – L **LLabiodental – very few sounds use the sound created when the upper teeth rest on the lower lip, but say ‘very’ and ‘few’ and you will hear twoLapel (or...
- 2023 / 9 / 150989 – The Diction-ary of Voice – I2023.09.16 – 0989 – The Diction-ary of Voice – I **IImpromptu (or ‘ad libbed’) – a comment made ‘off the cuff’ without a script or prior rehearsalInflection – the lifting or lowering of the pitch of an...
- 2023 / 9 / 140988 – The Diction-ary of Voice – H2023.09.15 – 0988 – The Diction-ary of Voice – H**HHaemorrhage (‘vocal cord bruise’, ‘hematoma’) - a collection of blood in the vocal fold that develops after considerable voice use and leads to severe...
- 2023 / 9 / 130987 – The Diction-ary of Voice – G2023.09.14 – 0987 – The Diction-ary of Voice – GGlottal – a softer ‘coughing’ sound when used in speech, often when used instead of proper pronunciation in words such as ‘hot’ or ‘water’ when the tongue has...
- 2023 / 9 / 120986 – The Diction-ary of Voice – F2023.09.13 – 0986 – The Diction-ary of Voice – F **FFade (in, out, up, down, under) - to gradually adjust the volume of sound from low to high or high to lowFader – an audio channel’s level...
- 2023 / 9 / 110985 – The Diction-ary of Voice – E2023.09.12 – 0985 – The Diction-ary of Voice – EEllipsis – the marking on a script (‘…’) usually indicating that a pause is requiredEmphasis list - if an author wants to stress a point, they an emphasis list...
- 2023 / 9 / 100984 – The Diction-ary of Voice – D Part 22023.09.11 – 0984 – The Diction-ary of Voice – D Part 2Dry audio – a voice recording without any music underneath (which would be a ‘mixed’ recording)Dry mouth – literally having little saliva in one’s mouth,...
- 2023 / 9 / 90983 – The Diction-ary of Voice - D Part 12023.09.10 – 0983 – The Diction-ary of Voice - D Part 1 DAW - Short for ‘Digital Audio Workstation’ (or ‘Workspace’), said variously D.A.W and DAW (as in ‘door’). The software you use to record,...
- 2023 / 9 / 80982 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 42023.09.09 – 0982 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 4 Cue – the instruction to a presenter to start talking or performing. This could be verbal or by a light or a audio ‘cue tone’Cue – the short script...
- 2023 / 9 / 70981 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 32023.09.08 – 0981 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 3Conversational read (sometimes ‘transparent read’) – when a script doesn’t sound as though it is being read, so, using an authentic, friendly or...
- 2023 / 9 / 60980 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 22023.09.07 – 0980 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 2 Clipped – when a recorded signal has gone past the 0db threshold (or any other maximum recording level set by the engineer) and the computer...
- 2023 / 9 / 50979 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 12023.09.06 – 0979 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 1 **CCadence - rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or word (see: ‘inflection’) Camera panic – anxiety about being in a video affecting someone’s...
- 2023 / 9 / 40978 – The Diction-ary of Voice - B Part 22023.09.05 – 0978 – The Diction-ary of Voice - B Part 2 Binaural – a type of recording and/or processing that allows a 3D sound space to be conveyed over headphonesBit depth – refers to...
- 2023 / 9 / 30977 – The Diction-ary of Voice - B Part 12023.09.04 – 0977 – The Diction-ary of Voice - B Part 1**BB2B / B2C – different marketing or advertising models. ‘B2B’ stands for 'business to business', that is, an advert for a product or service services...
- 2023 / 9 / 20976 – The Diction-ary of Voice - A Part 22023.09.03 – 0976 – The Diction-ary of Voice - A Part 2 Alveolus – the area just behind your upper teeth and where your tongue darts to in the final sound of the word ‘sin’Ambience (‘ambient noise’,...
- 2023 / 9 / 10975 – The Diction-ary of Voice - A Part 12023.09.02 – 0975 – The Diction-ary of Voice - A Part 1The Diction-ary of Voice ON GOOD SPEAKING TERMS **AAbdomen – your stomach area that moves out as you breath in, as the diaphragm lowers to allow the...
- 2023 / 8 / 310974 – Whispering Voice2023.09.01 – 0974 – A Whispering VoiceWhispering voiceSymptom: Speaking very softlyPrescription: Don’t. A whisper needs vocal fold tension, with the sound produced in a small gap between them. Instead talk in...
- 2023 / 8 / 300973 – The Whining Voice2023.08.31 – 0973 – The Whining Voice Whining voiceSymptom: As you might expect, this sound is related to the ‘unnatural pitch’ described above. It too is a higher-pitched voice, with the added issue of...
- 2023 / 8 / 290972 – ‘Vocal Fry’ Voice2023.08.30 – 0972 – ‘Vocal Fry’ Voice‘Vocal fry’ voice[1],[2]Symptom: We have covered this in some depth previously, especially in episode 38: the low, glottal, creaky, choppy, breathy delivery often...
- 2023 / 8 / 280971 – Valley Speak2023.08.29 – 0971 – Valley SpeakValley speak (short for ‘Valley Girl-speak’)[1]’[2]Symptom: This is a combination of several vocal features (nasality, uptalk, fast-paced run-on sentences, breathiness and...
- 2023 / 8 / 270970 - Uptalk2023.08.28 – 0970 - UptalkUptalk[1]Symptom: Most sentences end on a lower inflection than how they start, to give a signal that the end of the thought has been reached. Apart from sentences which end...
- 2023 / 8 / 260969 - The Unnaturally Pitched Voice2023.08.27 – 0969 - Unnaturally pitched voiceUnnaturally pitched voiceSymptom: This is similar to the ‘mono-tone’ (but where that is usually a lower pitch, this problem is usually one of being too...
- 2023 / 8 / 250968 – The ‘Tired’ Voice2023.08.26 – 0968 – The ‘Tired’ Voice Tired voiceSymptom: You sound dull, flat and a little ‘slurry’ as your tongue has trouble forming words.Prescription:...
- 2023 / 8 / 240967 - The ‘Throwaway’ Delivery2023.08.25 – 0967 - The ‘Throwaway’ Delivery ‘Throwaway’ deliverySymptom: When your voice trails off on the last word or two of a sentence. This makes them sound unimportant and sometime unintelligible...
- 2023 / 8 / 230966 - Throat Clearing2023.08.24 – 0966 - Throat Clearing Throat clearingSymptom: Throat clearing can become a habit. The slightest tickle and you may cough, but this irritates the vocal folds even more and makes them more...
- 2023 / 8 / 220965 – The ‘Thin’ Voice2023.08.23 – 0965 – The ‘Thin’ VoiceThin voiceSymptom: A voice which is weak, with a lack of air, energy and resonance. It may lack authority.Prescription: · It...
- 2023 / 8 / 210964 - Stumbling2023.08.22 – 0964 - StumblingStumblingSymptom: Verbal mistakes in adlibbed conversations or more likely, when reading as script: restarting words, mispronunciations, mis-intonations, repeated corrections and...
- 2023 / 8 / 200963 - Stammering –2023.08.21 – 0963 - Stammering –Stammering – also called ‘stuttering’Symptom: Stammering is when someone:· repeats sounds or syllables – for example, saying...
- 2023 / 8 / 190962 - 'Sloppy' Speech2023.08.20 – 0962 - 'Sloppy' SpeechSloppy speechSymptom: Good diction doesn’t (usually) matter (!). As I have said several times in different ways (such as in epsiode 263), what’s important is whether your...
- 2023 / 8 / 180961 – The ‘Sing Song’ Delivery2023.08.19 – 0961 – The ‘Sing Song’ DeliverySing Song DeliverySymptom: This presentation or reading style is characterised by an artificial, repetitive pattern of a gradual rise in pitch for the first part of...
- 2023 / 8 / 170960 – The ‘Sibilant’ Voice2023.08.18 – 0960 – The ‘Sibilant’ VoiceSibilant voiceSymptom: When a voice is perceived to have excessive ‘s’ sounds it may be because the microphone is picking up and exaggerating that particular...
- 2023 / 8 / 160959 - The 'Script-reading' Voice2023.08.17 – 0959 - The 'Script-reading' VoiceScript-reading voiceSymptom: When you sound as though you are reading words rather than communicating or telling a story. When you sound wooden, bored, flat...
- 2023 / 8 / 150958 – The ‘Quiet’ Voice2023.08.16 – 0958 – The ‘Quiet’ VoiceQuiet voiceSymptom: I once worked with two people in the same office who spoke very quietly. Neither of them seemed concerned or embarrassed when their colleagues...
- 2023 / 8 / 140957 - Popping on the Mic2023.08.15 – 0957 - Popping on the MicPopping on the micSymptom: Some letters are pronounced by the lips temporarily stopping and then releasing a flow of air from your mouth. That means that when you say...
- 2023 / 8 / 130956 – The ‘Plonking’ Speech Pattern2023.08.14 – 0956 – The ‘Plonking’ Speech Pattern Plonking speech pattern Symptom: This is when a reader doesn’t know which word to highlight in their intonation, so they do it either randomly or, like a...
- 2023 / 8 / 120955 – Noisy Breathing2023.08.13 – 0955 – Noisy Breathing Noisy breathingSymptom: Your in-breath is clearly heard on the recording, sometimes as a suck (occasionally this comes with a lip-smack as well), or a wheeze. This is...
- 2023 / 8 / 110954 – The ‘Nervous’ Voice2023.08.12 – 0954 – The ‘Nervous’ VoiceNervous voiceSymptom: These may include a higher-pitched, fluttering voice, quickly-snatched breaths, little variation in intonation and regular...
- 2023 / 8 / 100953 – The 'Nasal' Voice2023.08.11 – 0953 – The 'Nasal' VoiceNasal voice Symptom: This is when ‘too much’ sounded-air goes through the nasal cavity where the resonance of sound is changed (a ‘bunged up’ voice is one that doesn’t...
- 2023 / 8 / 90952 – The ‘Monotonous’ Voice2023.08.10 – 0952 – The ‘Monotonous’ VoiceMonotonous voiceSymptom: Spoken tonal delivery which has little variation, with a perception of a single (or ‘mono’) tone. Such a delivery gives the impression that...
- 2023 / 8 / 80951 – The ‘Hoarse, Husky or Croaky’ Voice2023.08.09 – 0951 – The ‘Hoarse, Husky or Croaky’ VoiceHoarse, husky or croaky voiceSymptom: A raw, scratchy voice (not necessarily low in pitch) which may signify overuse (such as shouting or talking...
- 2023 / 8 / 70950 – The ‘Gravelly’ Voice2023.08.08 – 0950 – The ‘Gravelly’ Voice Gravelly voiceSymptom: A low, deep voice with little energy, projection or intonation.Prescription: This may be reduced by losing weight which could enhance...
- 2023 / 8 / 60949 – The ‘Gabbling’ Voice2023.08.07 – 0949 – The ‘Gabbling’ VoiceGabbling voice[1]Symptom: Different situations require different speeds: a brash ‘pile ‘em high and sell ‘em cheap’ commercial is likely to be faster than one for...
- 2023 / 8 / 50948 – The ‘Forced Pitch’ Voice2023.08.06 – 0948 – The ‘Forced Pitch’ VoiceForced pitch voice (also see: unnatural pitch)Symptom: Some people force their voice to produce sound at a different pitch than is normal or comfortable for them....
- 2023 / 8 / 40947 – Filler Words2023.08.05 – 0947 – Filler WordsFiller words (over-use of) Symptom: Verbal ticks in conversation, links and adlibs include words like “umm”, “so” and “yeah?” (and, indeed, “like”), or phrases such as “you...
- 2023 / 8 / 30946 – The ‘Ending Pattern’ Voice2023.08.04 – 0946 – The ‘Ending Pattern’ Voice ‘Ending Pattern’ voiceSymptom: A variety of the ‘sing song’ pattern discussed below, this presenter may (annoyingly and predictably) end a phrase or...
- 2023 / 8 / 20945 – The ‘Choppy’ delivery2023.08.03 – 0945 – the ‘Choppy’ Delivery ‘Choppy’ deliverySymptom: This is the style of [breath] having to take a breath [breath] after every few words [breath] in a sentence. The scrip is disjointed....
- 2023 / 8 / 10944 – Bunged up voice2023.08.02 – 0944 – Bunged up voiceBunged up voice (also see ‘nasal voice’)Symptom: This permanent ‘cold-like’ sound is caused by ‘not enough’ sounded air to get to the nasal cavity, where the resonance of...
- 2023 / 7 / 310943 – Breathy Voice2023.08.01 – 0943 – Breathy VoiceBreathy voiceSymptom: A voice with lots of air, which disperses the sound waves, makes the voice weak, and soon runs out (such as that of Marilyn Munroe[1]). The cause...
- 2023 / 7 / 300942 – Dry Mouth Problems2023.07.31 – 0942 – Dry Mouth ProblemsDry mouthSymptom: Unable to move your tongue around your mouth properly to form words leading to poor articulation and...
- 2023 / 7 / 290941 – The Boring Voice2023.07.30 – 0941 – The Boring VoiceBoring voice (aka ‘dull’, ‘flat’, ‘monotonous’, ‘uninterested’)Symptom: If you are having trouble being engaging it may be because your voice lacks variety, and so...
- 2023 / 7 / 280940 – YOUR ‘GET A BETTER VOICE’ SYMPTOMS AND PRESCRIPTIONS2023.07.29 – 0940 – YOUR ‘GET A BETTER VOICE’ SYMPTOMS AND PRESCRIPTIONS Although requirements for broadcast, presentation and voice-over work has changed over the years, less ‘announcer’ to more...
- 2023 / 7 / 270939 – Emotional Stress After Vocal Injury2023.07.28 – 0939 – Emotional Stress After Vocal Injury Emotional Stress After Vocal InjuryThe flip-side of emotion causing changes to the voice, is when vocal damage then affects you psychologically,...
- 2023 / 7 / 260938 – How Emotions And Trauma Affect How You Sound2023.07.27 – 0938 – How Emotions And Trauma Affect How You Sound Tears and cryingThey may be tears of joy, sadness, relief or something else, but tears can create vocal...
- 2023 / 7 / 250937 – Studio ‘Corpsing’2023.07.26 – 0937 – Studio ‘Corpsing’CorpsingThis is when you collapse in uncontrollable fits of laughter, perhaps from a perfectly innocuous remark by a colleague, and you can’t get over your ‘fit of the...
- 2023 / 7 / 240936 – Breaking News2023.07.25 – 0936 – Breaking NewsBreaking News StoriesNews readers need to be cool under pressure. There are occasions when a story breaks just before, or while you are on air and it has to be covered...
- 2023 / 7 / 230935 – Stopping Silly Script-reading Slip-ups2023.07.24 – 0935 – Stopping Silly Script-reading Slip-upsOther mistakesDon’t let yourself get in your own way! Knowing some of these will help you avoid them in the first...
- 2023 / 7 / 220934 – If It *Does* Go Wrong2023.07.23 – 0934 – If It *Does* Go WrongIF IT DOES GO WRONG The Number One Rule Never swear anywhere near a studio. By keeping to this, the chances of you swearing on air are greatly minimised. It is not...
- 2023 / 7 / 210933 – Confidence Vs. Cockiness2023.07.22 – 0933 – Confidence Vs. Cockiness Confidence is being pleased that you have been hired for the gig, proud that someone wants you to be the voice of their product, and certain that you can...
- 2023 / 7 / 200932 – Beta Blockers To Help Studio Nerves2023.07.21 – 0932 – Beta Blockers To Help Studio Nerves Beta-blockersPerhaps one of the last resorts to cope with mic fright is the use of drugs.[1]That could be drink, tobacco, (il)legal drugs such as...
- 2023 / 7 / 190931 – Look After Each Other2023.07.20 – 0931 – Look After Each Other VOICE BOXLook after each otherIf you see a colleague going through an anxious moment, support them by being positive. Helpful phrases are ones such as:“I...
- 2023 / 7 / 180930 – Earn Your ‘On Air’ Miles2023.07.19 – 0930 – Earn Your ‘On Air’ MilesEarn your ‘on-air’ miles Of course, overcoming a fear of failure comes from experience: your miles at the mic. When I was still at university, I’d spend hours...
- 2023 / 7 / 170929 – Gobble Up The Feedback2023.07.18 – 0929 – Gobble Up The FeedbackFeedback A constructive debrief is part of the ‘Plan and Prepare, Execute and Reflect and Evaluate’ feedback loop. (More on this in episode #629.)Such a ‘post...
- 2023 / 7 / 160928 – Warming Down2023.07.17 – 0928 – Warming Down After The Studio SessionWarm Down ExercisesHear episodes from #804 for specific exercises but doing these are part of the process to build confidence for next time. After...
- 2023 / 7 / 150927 – What To Do In The Moment When The Nerves Feel Real2023.07.16 – 0927 – What To Do In The Moment When The Nerves Feel Real VOICE BOXWhat to do in-the-moment when the nerves feel very real? STOPP: S – Slow downPause and look and take it in. T –...
- 2023 / 7 / 140926 – ‘Park’ Perfection2023.07.15 – 0926 – ‘Park’ PerfectionThink about:· Your single listener across the room: it will help you focus your attention on reassuring realities rather...
- 2023 / 7 / 130925 – Pause and Breathe, Focus and Relax2023.07.14 – 0925 – Pause and Breathe, Focus and RelaxPause and BreatheHigh levels of adrenalin affect the body’s chemistry for violent action which it doesn’t get. Burning off energy by filling your blood...
- 2023 / 7 / 120924 – Pre-Performance Routines2023.07.13 – 0924 – Pre-Performance Routines Pre-performance routinesHaving a routine reminds the mind of what’s coming next: a live show or a session recording. We’ve spoken about all of these...
- 2023 / 7 / 110923 – Positive Self-Talk2023.07.12 – 0923 – Positive Self-TalkDuring The Studio Session – or pre-performance routines immediately beforePositive self-talkRemember that you were chosen for your talents ahead of everyone else. So...
- 2023 / 7 / 100922 – Step By Step Positive Songs2023.07.11 – 0922 – Step By Step Positive Songs Listen to a Positive SongMusic is a great emotion-bringer, so when you get up on your ‘big day’ pick one that gives you positive energy and brings a smile...
- 2023 / 7 / 90921 – Nutrition and Hydration2023.07.10 – 0921 – Nutrition and Hydration Nutrition and HydrationEating gives you the fuel to stay focused and keep going under pressure. Healthy food of a single ingredient (so fruit, vegetables...
- 2023 / 7 / 80920 – Rest and Relax2023.07.09 – 0920 – Rest and RelaxPreparation – Your Voice We have covered plenty of exercises to help you have a strong, healthy and agile voice, both in how it sounds and also how it sounds with particular...
- 2023 / 7 / 70919 – Does Practice Make Perfect?2023.07.08 – 0919 – Does Practice Make Perfect? Preparation - The content - Be familiar with the script, the format, the role, the studio tech … If you’re not prepared, you will know it, even deep down....
- 2023 / 7 / 60918 – Counselling For Mic Fright2023.07.07 – 0918 – Counselling For Mic Fright Psychological help and counsellingIf your jitters are more serious and long term, therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy[1] may help discover the reasons,...
- 2023 / 7 / 50917 – Have a No-Stress Rehearsal2023.07.06 – 0917 – Have a No-Stress Rehearsal Have a Mental RehearsalVisualise success – Research shows that our brain reacts the same in a real situation as in an imagined one, so do what athletes do and...
- 2023 / 7 / 40916 – Remind Yourself Why You Care2023.07.05 – 0916 – Remind Yourself Why You Care Remind yourself why you careWhy is this broadcast, podcast or voice-over opportunity important to you? Tell yourself, out loud, how excited you are...
- 2023 / 7 / 30915 – Renaming and Reframing Mic Fright2023.07.04 – 0915 – Renaming and Reframing Mic Fright Re-naming and re-framing: Positive self-talk Our physical reactions to different emotions are often similar.Think how you feel when you’re excited...
- 2023 / 7 / 20914 – Be “Channelin’ The Adrenaline”!2023.07.03 – 0914 – Be “Channelin’ The Adrenaline”!“Channelin’ the adrenaline”!Remember, if you are nervous, it shows you care. You want to perform well, you want to be careful and professional, not slipshod...
- 2023 / 7 / 10913 – Know Your Nervous Triggers2023.07.02 – 0913 – Know Your Nervous Triggers OVERCOMING MIC FRIGHT BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER YOUR STUDIO SESSION BEFORE Pre-performance routines the weeks and days beforehandThose ‘butterflies’ in...
- 2023 / 6 / 300912 – Your Mindset At The Mic2023.07.01 – 0912 – Your Mindset At The MicINTRODUCTIONPerformance anxiety is rarely researched and so we understand very little about the specifics of this complex condition. We know some hacks… but we also...
- 2023 / 6 / 290911 – Your Guests’ Nerves2023.06.30 – 0911 – Your Guests’ NervesDon’t forget the guestsThey get nervous too. The presence of a microphone can cause some people to panic. Perhaps that’s not surprising in some situations: pouncing on...
- 2023 / 6 / 280910 – How The Audience Reacts To Your Nerves2023.06.29 – 0910 – How The Audience Reacts To Your NervesHow does the audience react to your nerves? Nerves not only affect you; they also affect your listeners. They want to feel taken care of, that they...
- 2023 / 6 / 270909 – How Video Meetings Can Cause Stress2023.06.28 – 0909 – How Video Meetings Can Cause StressVOICE BOXHow video meetings can cause stress:More focus is needed to process non-verbal communication such as facial expressions, tonal variation, body...
- 2023 / 6 / 260908 – When You Simply Can’t Speak At All2023.06.27 – 0908 – When You Simply Can’t Speak At AllThe clinical name for hoarseness is ‘dysphonia’ and complete (or almost complete) voice loss is ‘aphonia’.Often the symptoms are caused by infection,...
- 2023 / 6 / 250907 – The Vocal Effect Of Mic Fright2023.06.26 – 0907 – The Vocal Effect Of Mic Fright Vocally: · When stressed, the muscles that control the larynx can become tense.[1] (Periods of prolonged...
- 2023 / 6 / 240906 – The Respiratory Effect Of Mic Fright2023.06.25 – 0906 – The Respiratory Effect Of Mic Fright Respiritorally:· Held tension will restrict your ability to drop your diaphragm and open up your...
- 2023 / 6 / 230905 – The Physical Effect Of Mic Fright2023.06.24 – 0905 – The Physical Effect Of Mic Fright Physically:· Sweating under the arms, down the back and clammy...
- 2023 / 6 / 220904 – The Mental Effect Of Mic Fright2023.06.23 – 0904 – The Mental Effect Of Mic Fright The effect of nerves and stress on the body psychosomatic/ˌsʌɪkə(ʊ)səˈmatɪk/adjective1. A physical illness or condition caused...
- 2023 / 6 / 210903 – The Studio ‘Caveman’2023.06.22 – 0903 – The Studio ‘Caveman’This survival mechanism developed so humans could react quickly to life-threatening situations. But even though we don’t experience many saber-toothed tigers down the...
- 2023 / 6 / 200902 – Mic ‘Flight and Fight’2023.06.21 – 0902 – Mic ‘Flight and Fight’Mic fight and flight[1]The ‘fight or flight’ response is well known: an automatic physiological reaction that’s perceived by the ‘caveman’ in us as...
- 2023 / 6 / 200901 – Lack of Prep Time2023.06.20 – 0901 – Lack of Prep Time· Lack of time or effort to prepare mentally – perhaps you are tired, ‘under the weather’, in pain or returning after a...
- 2023 / 6 / 180900 – Confidence And Self-Esteem2023.06.19 – 0900 – Confidence And Self-Esteem· Lack of confidence – most of us have a fear of failure, but we can only survive and thrive by putting ourselves...
- 2023 / 6 / 170899 – Underlying Reasons For Mic Fright2023.06.18 – 0899 – Underlying Reasons For Mic FrightWhat the underlying reasons could be So, just why are some broadcaster-performers exhilarated and energized in front of the mic, while others feel a...
- 2023 / 6 / 160898 – Causes Of Mic Fright2023.06.17 – 0898 – Causes Of Mic Fright So, what’s going on?Extreme nervousness is one of the most unpleasant experiences to go through: physical and mental suffering that, if you are a broadcaster, may...
- 2023 / 6 / 150897 – Studio Excitement2023.06.16 – 0897 – Studio Excitement ExcitementYes, finally, nervousness might be excitement in disguise[1]. Physiologically, they certainly have some of the same symptoms: knees shaking, heart racing,...
- 2023 / 6 / 140896 – Studio Sensitivity2023.06.15 – 0896 – Studio Sensitivity Sensitivity to snarkiness Like a physical issue any underlying emotion can also be ‘heard’ in your voice: angry or anxious, stressed or depressed, walking on...
- 2023 / 6 / 130895 – Studio Workaholism2023.06.14 – 0895 – Studio Workaholism Workaholic-ismStress may come from being too focused on your mic work, at the expense of your family and friends, hobbies and health. If you have too much on your...
- 2023 / 6 / 120894 – Studio Perfectionism2023.06.13 – 0894 – Studio Perfectionism PerfectionismYou may get stressed in the studio because everything has to be ‘just so’: asking for take-after-take because the next one will “be the best one”;...
- 2023 / 6 / 110893 – Studio Imposter Syndrome2023.06.12 – 0893 – Studio Imposter Syndrome Imposter syndromeDo you sometimes feel overwhelmed by self-doubt and nervousness before turning on your mic or camera? You feel as though you’re “not good...
- 2023 / 6 / 100892 – Studio ‘Voice Confrontation’2023.06.11 – 0892 – Studio ‘Voice Confrontation’ Voice confrontation (or “I Don’t Like My Voice!”) You may be visibly uncomfortable hearing your voice live, in your headphones, or when your...
- 2023 / 6 / 90891 – Studio Embarrassment2023.06.10 – 0891 – Studio Embarrassment EmbarrassmentAs a voice-over, you have perfected a cast of characters while alone in your home studio and then you get your big break: a director wants you for a...
- 2023 / 6 / 80890 – Studio Disillusionment2023.06.09 – 0890 – Studio Disillusionment Disillusionment On occasion, you may simply not feel up to presenting a podcast. Your voice may be fine but you’re not ‘feeling it’, not in ‘the zone’ and don’t...
- 2023 / 6 / 70889 – Studio Claustrophobia2023.06.08 – 0889 – Studio Claustrophobia Claustrophobia Sitting alone in a home studio booth with several screens, a mic and a mixer, but no air conditioning, recording a voice-over session for an...
- 2023 / 6 / 60888 – Studio Depression2023.06.07 – 0888 – Studio DepressionIf it’s not nerves, stress or anxiety, it may be something elseLet’s not just stick with ‘feeling nervous’, there are other feelings and emotions which may arise in and...
- 2023 / 6 / 50887 – Studio Anxiety2023.06.06 – 0887 – Studio AnxietyAnxiety is persistent and may not be linked to a specific situation. The intensity may ebb and flow, but it never completely goes away, and with ongoing feelings of...
- 2023 / 6 / 40886 – Studio Stress2023.06.05 – 0886 – Studio StressStress may be seen as ‘extreme nervousness’. It too is triggered by a ‘presenting situation’ and is usually short-term. If controlled appropriately, a rush of chemicals in...
- 2023 / 6 / 30885 – Studio Nervousness2023.06.04 – 0885 – Studio NervousnessNerves, stress and anxiety Nervousness, stress and anxiety are part of the same bodily reaction of fight-flight-freeze which we’ll look at in a bit more detail later, and...
- 2023 / 6 / 20884 – Mic Fright2023.06.03 – 0884 – Mic Fright "The actor's nightmare", “…what it must be like to give birth"Laurence Olivier, on stage fright INTRODUCTION Do you want to express yourself, but it feels like a boa...
- 2023 / 6 / 10883 – Self Massage2023.06.02 – 0883 – Self Massage Self-massage· Put your first and forefinger together on each hand. Gently at first and then with stronger pressure stroke...
- 2023 / 5 / 310882 – Vocalisations of Different Voice Sounds2023.06.01 – 0882 – Vocalisations of Different Voice Sounds These are sometimes described different, with different words and terms[1]. Ok let’s go for...
- 2023 / 5 / 300881 – Surgery And The Voice2023.05.31 – 0881 – Surgery And The Voice SurgeryIf you are given anaesthetic, it’s likely you will be intubated, that is have a tube put down your throat and past your vocal folds, to help you...
- 2023 / 5 / 290880 – Vomiting And The Voice2023.05.30 – 0880 – Vomiting And The VoiceVomitingWe’ve mentioned this a few times in terms of acid reflux and alcohol consumption. Let’s take a second to look at it a little more closely. (Ugh!)Vomiting is...
- 2023 / 5 / 280879 – HPV And The Voice2023.05.29 – 0879 – HPV And The Voice HPVThe Human Papilloma Virus can be sexually transmitted but can also be shared in other ways not fully understood. It causes many different diseases, often in the...
- 2023 / 5 / 270878 – Alcohol And The Voice2023.05.28 – 0878 – Alcohol And The VoiceAlcoholIt’s unlikely you’ll be having a drink just before a broadcast show, podcast recording or studio session, but what might be the damage to your voice if you’ve...
- 2023 / 5 / 260877 – Steroids And The Voice2023.05.27 – 0877 – Steroids And The VoiceSteroidsThese might be used to reduce swelling in the body, in our case, the vocal folds, perhaps caused through misuse, which may then return to a more natural size...
- 2023 / 5 / 250876 – Vaping And The Voice2023.05.26 – 0876 – Vaping And The Voice VapingThis trend is too young for there to be hard and fast stats on how it may affect the larynx and voice, and that’s probably good enough reason in itself to...
- 2023 / 5 / 240875 – Cocaine And The Voice2023.05.25 – 0875 – Cocaine And The VoiceCocaineWhile smoked cocaine will have a similar effect to smoking marijuana, snorted cocaine will damage your nose and nasal septum (‘nasal deformity’) and so affect...
- 2023 / 5 / 230874 – Marijuana And The Voice2023.05.24 – 0874 – Marijuana And The VoiceWhile soft and hard drugs use is quite common in society, it’s even more prevalent in the entertainment business. It could be because of the amount of money some of...
- 2023 / 5 / 220873 – More Cures For Summer Allergies2023.05.23 – 0873 – More Cures For Summer Allergies · Antihistamine or steroid nasal spray or antihistamine pills – although they can have a drying...
- 2023 / 5 / 210872 – Cures For Summer Allergies2023.05.22 – 0872 – Cures For Summer Allergies Trouble is, you have to balance drying out the mucous and not over drying the folds[1]:· Hydration - the...
- 2023 / 5 / 200871 – Your Pitch and Post Nasal Drips2023.05.21 – 0871 – Your Pitch and Post Nasal Drips We already know about the ‘post-nasal drip’, a lovely term that refers to the secretions from your nose and sinuses which can drip into the back of...
- 2023 / 5 / 190870 – Pollens and Blossoms: Summer Allergies and Your Voice2023.05.20 – 0870 – Pollens and Blossoms: Summer Allergies and Your VoiceWe all love the lazy, hazy crazy days of summer, right? Well not if you have a seasonal allergy, and by ‘seasonal’ I mean anything from...
- 2023 / 5 / 180869 – Your Voice in Winter - 42023.05.19 – 0869 – Your Voice in Winter - 4 8. Let Your Mic Do The WorkIf you’re on stage in a show, MCing an event, turning on Christmas lights, remember the difference between volume and energy (loads...
- 2023 / 5 / 170868 – Your Voice in Winter - 32023.05.18 – 0868 – Your Voice in Winter - 3 6. Prep and Pacing Packed public transportation as people rush to prep, humans hurrying from one side of the city/county/planet to the other for the...
- 2023 / 5 / 160867 – Your Voice in Winter - 22023.05.17 – 0867 – Your Voice in Winter - 2 4. Be Careful of Rich Food and RefluxParty and holiday food can be rich and creamy (think chocolates, fried or spicy finger food, plus carbonated soft or...
- 2023 / 5 / 150866 – Your Voice in Winter - 12023.05.16 – 0866 – Your Voice in Winter - 1Winter can be a challenging time for your voice. To quote the song, “the weather outside is frightful” with cold air, there’s warm dry heated air inside, and if the...
- 2023 / 5 / 140865 – Coping With Covid2023.05.15 – 0865 – Coping With Covid Coping with long covidA small percentage of people who have had Covid-19 continue to have symptoms after 12 weeks, but because of the huge number of people who have...
- 2023 / 5 / 130864 – Don’t Forget Your Ears2023.05.14 – 0864 – Don’t Forget Your Ears EarsYou need to know what you sound like so you can adjust your voice or your mic, and make some sometimes subtle changes in pitch or timbre. You may be asked...
- 2023 / 5 / 120863 – Eye Exercises2023.05.13 – 0863 – Eye ExercisesAnd a few exercises:Pencil Push-UpsHold a pencil at arm’s length and focus on the tip. Move it closer and continue to focus. Repeat, moving it back and forth forcing your eyes...
- 2023 / 5 / 110862 – Don’t Forget Your Eyes2023.05.12 – 0862 – Don’t Forget Your EyesYour eyes and earsMost voice trainers overlook these critical body parts and the role they play in helping you get a better voice, but let’s spend a few moments doing...
- 2023 / 5 / 100861 – Feeling Attractive vs. Sounding Unobstructed2023.05.11 – 0861 – Feeling Attractive vs. Sounding Unobstructed Even though Connie was a radio presenter, she always came in immaculately dressed. Fitted suits, or tight jeans or blouses that left...
- 2023 / 5 / 90860 – Tight Clothes, Tight Voice2023.05.10 – 0860 – Tight Clothes, Tight Voice What else will affect your vocal performance?ClothesWhat won’t help, anything that causes constriction or discomfort Tight dresses, trousers, blouses and...
- 2023 / 5 / 80859 – Myth 5: Dark-coloured Pee Means You Are Dehydrated2023.05.09 – 0859 – Myth 5: Dark-coloured Pee Means You Are DehydratedMyth #5: Dark-coloured pee means you're dehydratedPee is dark because of the concentration of various elements in it, but that doesn’t of...
- 2023 / 5 / 70858 – Myth 4: Drinking Water Can Help You Lose Weight2023.05.08 – 0858 – Myth 4: Drinking Water Can Help You Lose WeightMyth #4: Drinking water can help you lose weightOK, maybe if you drink a few glasses before a meal, you’ll eat less[1] but that’s not the...
- 2023 / 5 / 60857 – Myth 3: We Need ‘Sports Drinks’2023.05.07 – 0857 – Myth 3: We Need ‘Sports Drinks’Myth #3: We need sports drinks to replace salt and other electrolytesThere’s usually no need to reach for the expensive coloured water after a work-out as...
- 2023 / 5 / 50856 – Myth 2: Caffeine Makes You Dehydrated2023.05.06 – 0856 – Myth 2: Caffeine Makes You Dehydrated Myth #2: Caffeine makes you dehydratedThe effect is almost miniscule and the 1928 research the claim is based on[1] doesn’t hold up to todays’ more...
- 2023 / 5 / 40855 – Myth 1: You Need To Drink at Least Eight Glasses of Water a Day2023.05.05 – 0855 – Myth 1: You Need To Drink at Least Eight Glasses of Water a DayH2O No-Nos – Busting 5 Myths About Water and Hydration[1] Myth 1: You need to drink at least eight glasses of water a...
- 2023 / 5 / 30854 – The Food And Drink Good List2023.05.04 – 0854 – The Food And Drink Good List The ‘good’ listHave these in moderation; you don’t want to feel full and bloated during a four-hour radio show. Neither do you want to feel...
- 2023 / 5 / 20853 – The Food And Drink Naughty List2023.05.03 – 0853 – The Food And Drink Naughty List The ‘bad’ listDairy - Milk, yoghurt, cheese can all be difficult for the body to break down and so cause acid reflux which can ‘burn’ your vocal...
- 2023 / 5 / 10852 – The Food And Drink That Can Damage Your Voice2023.05.02 – 0852 – The Food And Drink That Can Damage Your Voice EATING AND DRINKINGIt’s not so much what you should eat as what you should not, because, apart from foods which add to your...
- 2023 / 4 / 300851 – Your ‘Goldilocks’ Vocal Folds2023.05.01 – 0851 – Your ‘Goldilocks’ Vocal Folds ‘Breathy (or ‘aspirated’) onset’ – when they don’t close enough This happens when there is a lack of firm closure of the vocal folds, so...
- 2023 / 4 / 29850 – Vocal Trauma2023.04.30 – 0850 – Vocal Trauma A secondary problem comes when you release that breath through the previously tightened folds. Added together you have the very real possibility of ‘vocal...
- 2023 / 4 / 28849 – Sub-Glottal Pressure2023.04.29 – 0849 – Sub-Glottal Pressure VOICE BOXSub-glottal Pressure OK, so ‘sub’ is ‘below’, so this is the pressure below the glottis. A ‘glottal stop’ is the stop-start airflow from your...
- 2023 / 4 / 27848 – Help! The Gym Has Wrecked My Voice!2023.04.28 – 0848 – Help! The Gym Has Wrecked My Voice! But beware: · Strong physical exertion soon before a presentation can cause physical exhaustion...
- 2023 / 4 / 26847 – Fit Body Factors: intensity and balance2023.04.27 – 0847 – Fit Body Factors: intensity and balanceFactors to consider:· Exercise intensity – how hard you push yourself and for how...
- 2023 / 4 / 25846 – Fit Body, Fit Voice2023.04.26 – 0846 – Fit Body, Fit Voice Physical fitness and trainingOf course, your voice needs the rest of you to be in shape, your overall health, fitness, strength and posture, not just the actual...
- 2023 / 4 / 24845 – Birthday Candles2023.04.25 – 0845 – Birthday Candles Birthday candles Stand as previously described, with your feet firmly on the floor shoulder-width apart, knees very slightly bent rather than locked, with dropped and...
- 2023 / 4 / 23844 – Sue-eeeeee2023.04.24 – 0844 – Sue-eeeeeeSue-eeeeeeStand as previously described, with your feet firmly on the floor shoulder-width apart, knees very slightly bent rather than locked, with dropped and relaxed...
- 2023 / 4 / 22843 – Let It All Out2023.04.23 – 0843 – Let It All OutLet It All OutFocussing on full exhalations helps expand your diaphragm.· Lie on the floor in a semi-supine position (the...
- 2023 / 4 / 21842 – It’s Hip to Breathe Square2023.04.22 – 0842 – It’s Hip to Breathe SquareIt’s Hip to Breathe SquareSquare Breathing is used by US Navy Seals among others to create calmness and control....
- 2023 / 4 / 20841 – The Crunch and Stretch2023.04.21 – 0841 – The Crunch and Stretch The Crunch and StretchRib stretches open up the intercostal muscles (the ones that run between the ribs, and help form and move the chest wall), and release tension....
- 2023 / 4 / 19840 – How To Know Your Air Flow2023.04.20 – 0840 – How To Know Your Air Flow How do you know, your air-flow?Watch the clockTake a standard breath (not a huge gulp) and then let it out as though gently releasing air from a balloon:...
- 2023 / 4 / 18839 – Don’t Take Fish Gulps2023.04.19 – 0839 – Don’t Take Fish GulpsBut be aware of you use of air: do you tend to gulp? Or are you squeezing out the final words in a sentence with the last ounce of air you have spare? What about your...
- 2023 / 4 / 17838 – Excessive Oxygenation2023.04.18 – 0838 – Excessive Oxygenation Excessive oxygenationYou only really want to take in as much air as you will need to get to the end of your adlibbed phrase or sentence, or to read what’s been...
- 2023 / 4 / 16837 – Efficient Air-Use Exercises2023.04.17 – 0837 – Efficient Air-Use Exercises Now consider these exercises to help you create:· The most efficient way to get air in to your...
- 2023 / 4 / 15836 – The Deep Breathing Double Whammy2023.04.16 – 0836 – The Deep Breathing Double Whammy So short and shallow breathing from your upper chest results in a tightening and tensing of neck and throat muscles (as well as affecting the pecs which...
- 2023 / 4 / 14835 – “Why Do I Run Out Of Breath?”2023.04.15 – 0835 – “Why Do I Run Out Of Breath?” Running out of breath before the end of a sentence could be the effect of poor support (you did not take in enough to start with), or poor writing (the...
- 2023 / 4 / 13834 – The Breath Control Process2023.04.14 – 0834 – The Breath Control ProcessBreath control (or ‘supportive breathing’) ensures that your vocal folds are getting just the amount of air based on what it is you want to say.[1]1. Your brain...
- 2023 / 4 / 12833 – Breath Support and Breath Control2023.04.13 – 0833 – Breath Support and Breath Control Breath Support and Breath ControlThese two terms are often used interchangeably (I do so myself), but there is a specific...
- 2023 / 4 / 11832 – Passive and Active Breathing2023.04.12 – 0832 – Passive and Active BreathingA quick reminder that air is what fuels and carries your voice and that you invariably speak on the outbreath, when your stomach is coming in, a bit like an...
- 2023 / 4 / 10831 – The Key Thing of Breathing2023.04.11 – 0831 – The Key Thing of BreathingBREATHINGWe’ve looked before at the importance of proper breathing, not just to give you life (!) but to give your voice enough support so your words are heard...
- 2023 / 4 / 9830 – Lion Yawns2023.04.10 – 0830 – Lion YawnsHave a large, lion-like yawn to focus on getting the blood flowing into your throat and face.· Then move all the muscles of the...
- 2023 / 4 / 8829 – Cooling Down After Voice Work2023.04.09 – 0829 – Cooling Down After Voice WorkCooling down after voice workMost people know the importance of warming up the voice, even if not sure exactly how. But cooling down the voice? Not so much.But...
- 2023 / 4 / 7828 – Yoga For Your Voice2023.04.08 – 0828 – Yoga For Your VoiceYoga for your voiceTraditional yoga is an ancient form of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to...
- 2023 / 4 / 6827 – Stretching Cats and Wobbly Babies2023.04.07 – 0827 – Stretching Cats and Wobbly BabiesTense and release· Actively applying tension to parts of the body and releasing and...
- 2023 / 4 / 5826 – The Forward Flop2023.04.06 – 0826 – The Forward FlopForward flop· Stand with your feet hip-width apart. · Inhale and as you do so,...
- 2023 / 4 / 4825 – Side Slides2023.04.05 – 0825 – Side SlidesThe side slides· Stand with your feet slightly further apart than your hips, for added...
- 2023 / 4 / 3824 – Yes and No2023.04.04 – 0824 – Yes and NoYes and No· Move your head from side to side in a wide but slow ‘no’ gesture· Move...
- 2023 / 4 / 2823 – Hands Down2023.04.03 – 0823 – Hands DownHands down· Slowly lift your hands over your head…· And as you do so breathe...
- 2023 / 4 / 1822 – Hula Hoops2023.04.02 – 0822 – Hula HoopsHula hoops· Stand with your feet hip-width apart and with your knees slightly...
- 2023 / 3 / 31821 – Shoulder Shrugs and Rolls2023.04.01 – 0821 – Shoulder Shrugs and RollsShoulder shrugs and rolls· Raise and lower your shoulders in a slow exaggerated shrug. Up to your ears and then hold...
- 2023 / 3 / 300820 – Windmill Arms2023.03.31 – 0820 – Windmill ArmsWindmill arms· Stretch your arms out from the side (not the front or back) of your...
- 2023 / 3 / 290819 – Be A Crawler2023.03.30 – 0819 – Be A CrawlerBe a crawler· Do some big ‘front crawl’ swimming movements with your arms, slowly and gently for 20 seconds in a full circle....
- 2023 / 3 / 280818 – Hum and Drum2023.03.29 – 0818 – Hum and DrumHum and drum· Stand and breath in deeply – remember from your diaphragm!· Breathe...
- 2023 / 3 / 270817– Make A Stand!2023.03.28 – 0817– Make A Stand!First, make a stand! Many presenters and voice-over artists prefer to stand at the mic anyway. It enables alertness and better breath...
- 2023 / 3 / 260816 – Whole Body Warm Up Exercises2023.03.27 – 0816 – Whole Body Warm Up ExercisesWhole Body Warm Up Exercises[1](Some of these exercises incorporate ‘sound’ as well as ‘structure’, that is you may use your voice while you are physically...
- 2023 / 3 / 260815 – Relaxation From Tension2023.03.26 – 0815 – Relaxation From TensionThe flip side of tension is relaxation. Hopefully you will have seen by now how so many parts of the body are involved in creating the sound we call voice: your...
- 2023 / 3 / 250814 – Ten Tell-Tale Signs of Tension2023.03.25 – 0814 – Ten Tell-Tale Signs of TensionSome physical tension creeps up on us. We don’t notice small changes to the body until it’s ‘too late’. So here are Ten Tell-Tale Signs of...
- 2023 / 3 / 240813 – Your Studio Desk Set Up2023.03.24 – 0813 – Your Studio Desk Set Up Your Studio Desk Set UpAre the screens in your studio laid out so you can see them without twisting and turning, actions which will causes spinal stresses and...
- 2023 / 3 / 230812 – Nine Lines On the Spine (7-9)2023.03.23 – 0812 – Nine Lines On the Spine (7-9)7. Similarly wearing high heels can also throw your body out of alignment, you may have to stick your bum out to counterbalance your weight, causing...
- 2023 / 3 / 220811 – Nine Lines On the Spine (4-6)2023.03.22 – 0811 – Nine Lines On the Spine (4-6) 4. The larynx is at the top of the trachea which runs along the same line as your spine. What you do with your head and neck alignment has a knock-on...
- 2023 / 3 / 210810 – Nine Lines On the Spine (1-3)2023.03.21 – 0810 – Nine Lines On the Spine (1-3) Nine Lines On the Spine1. Why is this important? Well, your voice is affected by your postural alignment, and you will have better breathing and...
- 2023 / 3 / 200809 – Vocal Tension From Sitting and Standing2023.03.20 – 0809 – Vocal Tension From Sitting and Standing Physical tension can come from sitting down and standing upIt is very easy to stay still in a studio and only at the end of a programme...
- 2023 / 3 / 190808 – The Causes of Vocal Tension2023.03.19 – 0808 – The Causes of Vocal Tension What Causes Tension Nerves. Overwhelm. Anxiety. Excitement. The unknown. Panic. Being underprepared. Being worried about how you sound. Concerns about your...
- 2023 / 3 / 180807 – Tension and Relaxation2023.03.18 – 0807 – Tension and Relaxation We looked at releasing tension in the mouth, jaw, tongue and lips in the previous chapter, but as the Voice Box above shows, physical tension that can affect...
- 2023 / 3 / 170806 – Stretching and Strengthening Your Laryngeal Muscle2023.03.17 – 0806 – Stretching and Strengthening Your Laryngeal Muscle There are around 27 muscles in and around the larynx, 15 of these are outside the larynx and hold it in position in the neck, 12 are...
- 2023 / 3 / 160805 – Your Physical Health2023.03.16 – 0805 – Your Physical Health In the previous chapter we looked at your vocal zones and how looking after them affects the way you sound. Earlier in the course we discussed the ‘art of breathing’...
- 2023 / 3 / 150804 – The Cool-Down Low-Down2023.03.15 – 0804 – The Cool-Down Low-Down % The cool down low-downThere is a need to ease yourself back to normality after extensive vocalising, resetting to ‘neutral’ rather than just stopping...
- 2023 / 3 / 140803 – Green Kings Singing2023.03.14 – 0803 – Green Kings Singing Green Kings Singing· Slowly and carefully say the phrase “green kings sing-ging” . Note how I’ve written the...
- 2023 / 3 / 130802 – The ‘siNG soNG’ Vocal Warm Up2023.03.13 – 0802 – The ‘siNG soNG’ Vocal Warm Up Nasal It’s important to be comfortable in diverting sounded air from your nasal cavity to the mouth and vice-versa. The Nasal...
- 2023 / 3 / 120801 – The ‘This & That’ Vocal Warm Up2023.03.12 – 0801 – The ‘This & That’ Vocal Warm Up This & ThatSay the word “this” and “that” and you’ll notice that to make the “th” you put the tip of your tongue between your...
- 2023 / 3 / 110800 – The ‘Puh-Tuh-Kuh Puh-Tuh-Kuh’ Vocal Warm Up2023.03.11 – 0800 – The ‘Puh-Tuh-Kuh Puh-Tuh-Kuh’ Vocal Warm Up The Puh-Tuh-Kuh exercise· Without pushing or forcing, sound “puh-tuh-kuh” individually,...
- 2023 / 3 / 100799 – A Trill-iantly Easy Lip Warm-Up2023.03.10 – 0799 – A Trill-iantly Easy Lip Warm-Up Lip trills These encourage you to relax your mouth and lips, easing the muscles associated with enunciating, warming them up and encourage a...
- 2023 / 3 / 90798 – Giving Your Lips A Work-Pout2023.03.09 – 0798 – Giving Your Lips A Work-Pout LipsGive your lips a work-pout with these great exercises. Lip pouts · Make an exaggerated extended lip-purse as...
- 2023 / 3 / 80797 – The ‘Pucker Muscle’ and the ‘Smile Muscle’2023.03.08 – 0797 – The ‘Pucker Muscle’ and the ‘Smile Muscle’ The ‘Pucker Muscle’ and the ‘Smile Muscle’ The ‘pucker muscle’ that controls lip movement to shape sounds is the ‘orbicularis...
- 2023 / 3 / 70796 – Bits About Lips2023.03.07 – 0796 – Bits About Lips Bits About LipsLips are more than just the ‘lipstick bit’, their muscles extend into the cheeks and so affect (and are affected by) the whole of the face and...
- 2023 / 3 / 60795 - The ‘Mouth’s Mystery Muscle’2023.03.06 – 0795 - The ‘Mouth’s Mystery Muscle’ Tongue Root Tension and the ‘Mouth’s Mystery Muscle’ We all know about the tongue yeah? We can see it in our mouth, we know it is very sensitive to...
- 2023 / 3 / 50794 – Blowing Raspberries2023.03.05 – 0794 – Blowing Raspberries Blowing Raspberries· Relax your mouth, lips and cheeks and slightly stick out your tongue, resting it on your lower...
- 2023 / 3 / 40793 – The Right Way To Use Tongue Twisters As An Articulation Exercise2023.03.04 – 0793 – The Right Way To Use Tongue Twisters As An Articulation Exercise Tongue TwistersOnce you have warmed up the tongue, you can try some tongue twisters to put it through its paces (if...
- 2023 / 3 / 30792 – The ‘Tongue Curl’ Vocal Exercise2023.03.03 – 0792 – The ‘Tongue Curl’ Vocal ExerciseCurled Tongue· Put the tip of your tongue behind your lower front teeth, and arch the middle of your tongue...
- 2023 / 3 / 20791 – A Drumroll For The Tongue2023.03.02 – 0791 – A Drumroll For The TongueTongue Trills· Relax your mouth and tongue and have your lips slightly apart. Purr like a cat (or like a drumroll),...
- 2023 / 3 / 10790 – The ‘Toothpaste Tongue’ Vocal Exercise2023.03.01 – 0790 – The ‘Toothpaste Tongue’ Vocal ExerciseToothpaste Tongue· Imagine there’s a blob of toothpaste on the tip of your tongue and give each tooth...
- 2023 / 2 / 280789 – Getting a ‘Slug Tongue’2023.02.28 – 0789 – Getting a ‘Slug Tongue’ Slug TongueRelax the jaw, drop the tongue out of the mouth and count slowly out loud to 10. Then recite the ‘Happy Birthday’ song or something similar, keeping...
- 2023 / 2 / 270788 – Tongue Stretches2023.02.27 – 0788 – Tongue Stretches Tongue Stretches· Open and relax your mouth with your lips apart, then stick out your tongue as far as it will stretch....
- 2023 / 2 / 260787 – Tongue Fun2023.02.26 – 0787 – Tongue FunThe TongueYour tongue is a major articulator helping form sounds into recognisable words (as well as being used in swallowing and eating). It moves courtesy of eight muscles:...
- 2023 / 2 / 250786 – The Exaggeration Vocal Exercise2023.02.25 – 0786 – The Exaggeration Vocal Exercise Over EnunciationSilently say a phrase (“Get A Better Broadcast, Podcast and Voice Over Voice”) with really exaggerated mouth, lip and jaw movements. Repeat...
- 2023 / 2 / 240785 – Jaw Massage2023.02.24 – 0785 – Jaw MassageJaw Massage Let your jaw drop slightly and put the balls of your hands just under your cheekbones. Rub firmly into the hollows of your cheeks as you let the lower jaw drop into...
- 2023 / 2 / 230784 – The Toffee and Chipmunk Jaw Exercises2023.02.23 – 0784 – The Toffee and Chipmunk Jaw ExercisesThe JawIf you experience a popping or clicking in their jaw, it’s a possible sign that you are tensing or clenching it too much. But of course, you...
- 2023 / 2 / 220783 – The ‘Silent Laugh’ Vocal Exercise2023.02.22 – 0783 – The ‘Silent Laugh’ Vocal Exercise The Silent LaughImagine you’ve just been told a joke but you’re not allowed to laugh out loud, instead do so silently and gently inside your throat...
- 2023 / 2 / 210782 – The ‘Yawn Sigh’ Vocal Exercise2023.02.21 – 0782 – The ‘Yawn Sigh’ Vocal Exercise Throat The Yawn SighYawning opens and stretches muscles at the back of your throat.· Stand up and...
- 2023 / 2 / 200781 – The Ubiquitous Panting Exercise2023.02.20 – 0781 – The Ubiquitous Panting Exercise PantingYour vocal folds make a tense and strained sound if they are closing too tightly over the airflow, but a pleasant and easy sound is made when...
- 2023 / 2 / 190780 – Tarzan and The Wake-Up Hum2023.02.19 – 0780 – Tarzan and The Wake-Up Hum Let’s start with the larynx. Larynx Your voice needs to start slow, so we’ll start by awakening the cords with humming, a great go-to for...
- 2023 / 2 / 180779 – Why Warm Up Your Voice?2023.02.18 – 0779 – Why Warm Up Your Voice? Warming upThe intensity, speed and duration of any voice-over work can cause vocal fatigue. Not warming up will lead to a longer recovery...
- 2023 / 2 / 170778 – Vocal Exercise Advise2023.02.17 – 0778 – Vocal Exercise Advise A quick health warning:· Like at the gym, always do a warm-up before you do a...
- 2023 / 2 / 160777 – Vocal Work-Outs, Warm-Ups and Winding Down2023.02.16 – 0777 – Vocal Work-Outs, Warm-Ups and Winding Down %VOCAL WORK-OUTS, WARM-UPS AND WINDING DOWNA dance or sports person wouldn’t dream of performing without a warm-up, or suddenly...
- 2023 / 2 / 150776 – Help! I’m Getting A Cold!2023.02.15 – 0776 – Help! I’m Getting A Cold! Help! I’m getting a cold! (Or blocked nose, sneezes and sniffles, itchy mouth, catarrh, sore throat, dry cough, headache, hoarseness and general...
- 2023 / 2 / 140775 – Vocal Fold Haemorrhage2023.02.14 – 0775 – Vocal Fold Haemorrhage Continued talking may lead to ‘vocal nodules’ on your folds, which are common with loud, tense, constant talkers. (Polyps are similar but usually...
- 2023 / 2 / 130774 – Voice Advice From Justin Timberlake and Larry Hagman2023.02.13 – 0774 – Voice Advice From Justin Timberlake and Larry Hagman ‘Resting’ actorsLarry Hagman was best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime...
- 2023 / 2 / 120773 – Polyps, Nodules and Phonal Trauma2023.02.12 – 0773 – Polyps, Nodules and Phonal Trauma Treating your voice badly, shouting[1], smoking or straining it, is not showing it the respect it deserves. These actions can lead to ‘phonal...
- 2023 / 2 / 110772 – The Greatest Vocal Athletes2023.02.11 – 0772 – The Greatest Vocal Athletes The voice-overs with perhaps the most vocal stamina have to be the audiobook narrators. Recording day after day for a total of 70 hours is not...
- 2023 / 2 / 100771 – Vocal Conditioning Through Proper Pacing2023.02.10 – 0771 – Vocal Conditioning Through Proper Pacing If your body is tired, your voice sounds tired: it’s one of the first areas where your lack of zeds shows itself. Before a recording...
- 2023 / 2 / 90770 – Why Having A Secret May Be Hurting Your Voice2023.02.09 – 0770 – Why Having A Secret May Be Hurting Your Voice Whispering – Normal speaking is with a regular airflow and closure. With whispering you get no closure and you need more effort to...
- 2023 / 2 / 80769 – Why African Elephants In Underpants May Be Hurting Your Voice2023.02.08 – 0769 – Why African Elephants In Underpants May Be Hurting Your Voice VowelsSay the following phrase aloud, word by word: “African. Elephants. In. Our. Underpants”. Each word begins...
- 2023 / 2 / 70768 – What To Say To An Anaesthetist2023.02.07 – 0768 – What To Say To An Anaesthetist Surgery – Intubation is when a tube is fed into your mouth (‘endotracheal intubation’) or nose (‘nasogastric intubation’) and then into the airway to help...
- 2023 / 2 / 60767 – How A Kettle Can Help Your Voice2023.02.06 – 0767 – How A Kettle Can Help Your Voice Steam inhaling - can help the health of the vocal folds and the mucous membranes that line the nasal and mouth cavities. Steaming once or twice a day...
- 2023 / 2 / 50766 –Voice Problems Caused By Shouting and Smoking2023.02.05 – 0766 –Voice Problems Caused By Shouting and Smoking Shouting – causes the folds are slammed together harshly. Consider why you are shouting – perhaps it’s because of a loud and busy...
- 2023 / 2 / 40765 – How Snoring May Be Causing Voice Problems2023.02.04 – 0765 – How Snoring May Be Causing Voice Problems Mouth breathing and snoring - can dry your vocal folds (as we saw previously, part of the job the nostrils have is to humidify the air as it...
- 2023 / 2 / 30764 – How Meds Can Hurt Not Help Your Voice2023.02.03 – 0764 – How Meds Can Hurt Not Help Your Voice Medications – Again, sticky-sweet, tongue colour-changing over-the-counter lozenges do not touch your vocal cords. Although they might have...
- 2023 / 2 / 20763 – How Your Voice Is Affected By Oestrogen, Progesterone and Androgens2023.02.02 – 0763 – How Your Voice Is Affected By Oestrogen, Progesterone and Androgens Menopause can also affect the voice.[1] Vocally speaking,...
- 2023 / 2 / 10762 – How Hormones Affect Your Voice2023.02.01 – 0762 – How Hormones Affect Your Voice Hormones - We know how boys’ voices change as they go through puberty, but so do girls’. Testosterone and oestrogen not only affect the voice directly...
- 2023 / 1 / 310761 – The Voice Enemies Of Air Con, Carphones and Coughing2023.01.31 – 0761 – The Voice Enemies Of Air Con, Carphones and Coughing Air conditioning – a dry throat can be caused by heating or air conditioning in homes, offices, trains, planes and cars. Try...
- 2023 / 1 / 300760 – Signs Your Voice Isn’t As It Should Be2023.01.30 – 0760 – Signs Your Voice Isn’t As It Should Be (How To Use Your Voice For A Four Hour Show And Not Damage Or Lose It)??Signs that your voice isn’t as it should be Of course, only you...
- 2023 / 1 / 290759 – Potentially Unhelpful Vocal Rest2023.01.29 – 0759 – Potentially Unhelpful Vocal Rest Potentially ‘unhelpful’ vocal rest This might include:Not speaking for two days before a studio session to “prepare my voice” – as an...
- 2023 / 1 / 280758 – The Importance Of Voice Naps2023.01.28 – 0758 – The Importance Of Voice Naps If you are using your voice a lot, try and schedule some specific ‘voice naps’ into your day, where you don’t talk for 5-15 minutes at a time on...
- 2023 / 1 / 270757 – Outside Elements Damaging Your Voice2023.01.27 – 0757 – Outside Elements Damaging Your Voice As well as external environmental issues such as:· Air humidity - dry air is thought to...
- 2023 / 1 / 260756 – Your Vocal Battery2023.01.26 – 0756 – Your Vocal Battery PROFESSIONAL VOCAL STRAINIt is of course better to ‘defend not mend’ – and prevention is easier than a remedy. So, look after your folds and everything else...
- 2023 / 1 / 250755 – Why Your Evening Meal Could Be Killing Your Voice2023.01.25 – 0755 – Why Your Evening Meal Could Be Killing Your Voice Acid reflux[1] This is when digestive juices (made up of strong acids and enzymes) find their way from the stomach into the...
- 2023 / 1 / 240754 – Why ‘Thirst’ Is Unreliable2023.01.24 – 0754 – Why ‘Thirst’ Is Unreliable Your unreliable dehydration warning systemWhen you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. That’s because whereas the body treats food with a ‘store now -...
- 2023 / 1 / 230753 – Hydration Oughta Be Water, But…2023.01.23 – 0753 – Hydration Oughta Be Water, But…Where hydration comes fromHydration oughta be water, plain, pure and at room temperature. But if you’re struggling to drink enough...
- 2023 / 1 / 220752 – Hydrate to Sound Great. Here’s Why…2023.01.22 – 0752 – Hydrate to Sound Great. Here’s Why…The more dehydrated you are:· The drier the cords· The...
- 2023 / 1 / 210751 – A Moment On Mucus2023.01.21 – 0751 – A Moment On MucusSo, hydration affects the folds specifically in two ways:· ‘Systemic hydration’ is the term for hydrating your whole body,...
- 2023 / 1 / 200750 – The Hydration Situation2023.01.20 – 0750 – The Hydration Situation The Hydration Situation (or How to ‘Get A Wetter Broadcast, Podcast and Voiceover Voice’)Up to 60% of the human adult body is water[1]: the brain and heart are...
- 2023 / 1 / 190749 – Why Cough Sweets Are A Con2023.01.19 – 0749 – Why Cough Sweets Are A ConFirst up, it’s important to realise that nothing you swallow touches your vocal folds. Yep, those soothing cough sweets you take for example, go nowhere near them...
- 2023 / 1 / 180748 – Vocal Health as Asset Protection2023.01.18 – 0748 – Vocal Health as Asset ProtectionAs we have seen, the vocal cords are super thin muscular folds the length of your thumb nail. Air exhaled from the lungs passes over the taut cords and they...
- 2023 / 1 / 170747 – You Are A Vocal Athlete2023.01.17 – 0747 – You Are A Vocal AthleteWe are vocal athletes! Those of us who speak for a living are trained and skilled, we have physical strength, agility and stamina. We can get highly stressed...
- 2023 / 1 / 160746 – Exercise Advisories2023.01.16 – 0746 – Exercise AdvisoriesOver the years in the many training sessions I have led, I have just known that the advice I have given to my clients in this area is going to be ignored: lip trills...
- 2023 / 1 / 150745 – Your Vocal, Physical and Emotional Health: an introduction2023.01.15 – 0745 – Your Vocal, Physical and Emotional Health: an introduction ‘The first thing to be considered is what sort of voice we have and next, how we use it. The natural power of the voice is...
- 2023 / 1 / 140744 – Telephony Voiceovers2023.01.14 – 0744 – Telephony VoiceoversTelephony voice over – (‘voicemail’, ‘Message On-Hold’, ‘MOH’, ‘Integrated Voice Response’ or ‘IVR’ “for sales press 1, for help press 3…”)These voices have to...
- 2023 / 1 / 130743 – Voiceover Cut-Throughs2023.01.13 – 0743 – Voiceover Cut-ThroughsA voice-over might hope that with a commercial read they may be asked to record another ad for the same brand, but it’s not a given. That job may be a one-off. But...
- 2023 / 1 / 120742 – Station Imaging Voiceovers2023.01.12 – 0742 – Station Imaging Voiceovers Station imagingThese are the branded voices that are used on promotional trailers for radio and TV stations. So not on the commercials advertising other...
- 2023 / 1 / 110741 – Voicing Public Service Announcements.2023.01.11 – 0741 – Voicing Public Service AnnouncementsPSAsIn times of disaster, be it natural or human, a Public Service (or Safety) Message may be the best way to get information out fast and elicit...
- 2023 / 1 / 100740 – The Tonal Scale on Political Voiceovers2023.01.10 – 0740 – The Tonal Scale on Political VoiceoversWith negative ads, you are unlikely to be shouting and screaming in fury, instead, your style will be more measured and composed although still...
- 2023 / 1 / 90739 – Political Ad Voiceover Styles2023.01.09 – 0739 – Political Ad Voiceover Styles Like most advertising where the style of such campaigns was once very ‘announcery’, both of these content styles are now much more conversational,...
- 2023 / 1 / 80738 – Finding The Key Points in Political Voiceover Scripts2023.01.08 – 0738 – Finding The Key Points in Political Voiceover ScriptsAs a voice-over you have to immediately identify:· Is this ad actively promoting the...
- 2023 / 1 / 70737 – Political Voiceovers: Lead Ins and Pay Offs2023.01.07 – 0737 – Political Voiceovers: Lead Ins and Pay OffsAds of either style often start with a question, another rhetorical device that gets the listener to ‘fill the vacuum’ with an...
- 2023 / 1 / 60736 – Key Words to Highlight in Political Ads2023.01.06 – 0736 – Key Words to Highlight in Political Ads All styles usually have a script that is clean, clear and sharp, one which has a point of view to catch the attention and emotion of its target...
- 2023 / 1 / 50735 – Voiceovers For Political Ads2023.01.05 – 0735 – Voiceovers For Political Ads Political adsThese are most common in the US and can be divided into these categories: [1], [2]· Positive –...
- 2023 / 1 / 40734 – Movie Trailers Voiceovers2023.01.04 – 0734 – Movie Trailers VoiceoversMovie trailersThe ‘god’ of these was the iconic voice of Don LaFontaine who recorded more than 5,000 film trailers and hundreds of thousands of...
- 2023 / 1 / 30733 – Medical Narration Skills2023.01.03 – 0733 – Medical Narration SkillsMedical VOsThese can be quite content-rich and may be for professional medical education or maybe for drug or equipment reps, and will likely have pharmaceutical...
- 2023 / 1 / 20732 – The 4 P’s of Speaking Outdoors2023.01.02 – 0732 – The 4 P’s of Speaking Outdoors VOICE BOXSpeaking outdoors ‘Public speaking’ at out-door events, garden parties, open-air weddings, theatres and so on can put an added strain on...
- 2023 / 1 / 10731 – Sport Stadium Announcing2023.01.01 – 0731 – Sport Stadium Announcing In this category could also come ‘announcers’ such as those as sports events. Bob Sheppard was the long-time public address announcer for more than...
- 2022 / 12 / 310730 – Skilling Up To Be Godlike2022.12.31 – 0730 – Skilling Up To Be GodlikeAdditional skills· You need to be able to ask questions, use initiative and take direction when presenting in this...
- 2022 / 12 / 300729 – Your Godlike Presentation2022.12.30 – 0729 – Your Godlike PresentationYour presentation· Don’t talk too fast or information may be missed. There may be a busy room with hubbub and people...
- 2022 / 12 / 290728 – Your Bow Tie And Ball Gown Prep2022.12.29 – 0728 – Your Bow Tie And Ball Gown Prep· Seeing a script in advance will let you prep any unusual terminology. Perhaps it’s a sports event and you...
- 2022 / 12 / 280727 – Prepping For ‘Voice of God’ Announcements2022.12.28 – 0727 – Prepping For ‘Voice of God’ Announcements Preparation· Ensure you get the script well in advance so you can read and rehearse. There may be...
- 2022 / 12 / 270726 – Your ‘Voice of God’ Voice2022.12.27 – 0726 – Your ‘Voice of God’ VoiceYour voice· In this position you are often the face, or rather the voice of the event: the conductor. Assess the...
- 2022 / 12 / 260725 – Live Event Announcement Skills2022.12.26 – 0725 – Live Event Announcement SkillsLive Events Announcements (‘Voice of God’ aka VOG)These are the announcements made at an event (maybe a conference, ball or theatre), signposting what the...
- 2022 / 12 / 250724 – Reading Cast Lists2022.12.25 – 0724 – Reading Cast Lists This is the part of the cast list for an episode of the world’s longest-running continuing drama, BBC Radio 4’s “The Archers”:Pat Archer ….. Patricia Gallimore...
- 2022 / 12 / 240723 – Reading Lists2022.12.24 – 0723 – Reading Lists Lists (or ‘strings’) and creditsLists are boring so it is your job to make them sound less so. We’re talking about maybe a news story on the selling points of a showbiz...
- 2022 / 12 / 230722 – Possible Hazards in e-Learning Narration2022.12.23 – 0722 – Possible Hazards in e-Learning Narration Possible trip-upsWatch out for:· Jargon and unfamiliar terms and phrases – check each pronunciation...
- 2022 / 12 / 220721 – Explainer and Training Video Narration2022.12.22 – 0721 – Explainer and Training Video Narration Explainer videos by their definition are structured in the classic problem > solution style, often featuring the owner of the business or a member of...
- 2022 / 12 / 210720 – Sight-Reading Skills For Your e-Learning Narration2022.12.21 – 0720 – Sight-Reading Skills For Your e-Learning Narration Sight reading - As the scripts are likely to be quite long, you need to be able to scan once (to check for potential stumble-ridden...
- 2022 / 12 / 200719 – Stamina and Timing For Your e-Learning Narration2022.12.20 – 0719 – Stamina and Timing For Your e-Learning NarrationOther skillsStamina - Such reads may be quite demanding: explaining a new procedure to an oncologist or orthodontist may involve complex...
- 2022 / 12 / 190718 – Intonation and Projection For Your e-Learning Narration2022.12.19 – 0718 – Intonation and Projection For Your e-Learning NarrationIntonation - people need to trust that you know what you are explaining to them, so correct intonation is paramount. A mis-stress can...
- 2022 / 12 / 180717 – Pace and Tone For Your e-Learning Narration2022.12.18 – 0717 – Pace and Tone For Your e-Learning Narration Your e-learning voiceYou will be the ‘brand voice’ of the product or service, so you will reflect those values as well as those of the target...
- 2022 / 12 / 170716 – e-Learning Narration2022.12.17 – 0716 – e-Learning Narratione-Learning NarrationFor every industry there is something to learn and the aim is to make it engaging and interesting, understandable and memorable. E-learning and...
- 2022 / 12 / 160715 – Voiceover Dubbing Multi-Skills2022.12.16 – 0715 – Voiceover Dubbing Multi-SkillsYou don’t need to be able to understand the original language, in fact knowing it may be a distraction as you’ll be able to understand what you’re replacing....
- 2022 / 12 / 150714 – Lip-Sync, Phrase-Sync, Non-Sync, Bilingual and Narration Dubbing2022.12.15 – 0714 – Lip-Sync, Phrase-Sync, Non-Sync, Bilingual and Narration DubbingDubbing can also be used to describe the voice given to animated characters or computer-generated characters in video...
- 2022 / 12 / 140713 – Full-Dubbing Skills2022.12.14 – 0713 – Full-Dubbing SkillsFull dubbing (or ‘revoicing’) is when a whole new audio version of the dialogue is created, for example re-recording all of the characters in a Canadian English-speaking...
- 2022 / 12 / 130712 – Dialogue Replacement Skills2022.12.13 – 0712 – Dialogue Replacement SkillsDubbingAutomated Dialogue Replacement (ADR)This is when a line or more of a movie or TV dialogue that was recorded on location, is re-recorded in a studio. It...
- 2022 / 12 / 120711 – Brand Voices2022.12.12 – 0711 – Brand VoicesBrand voicesGo back and read ep 258You need to be:· Adaptable and be able to voice different kinds of content – ads, phone...
- 2022 / 12 / 110710 – Audio Guide Narration Skills2022.12.11 – 0710 – Audio Guide Narration SkillsSome of these parts may be played by actors, but often it may just be a narrator – the ‘glue’ that links all of the information together. They will do the...
- 2022 / 12 / 100709 – Voicing and Producing Audio Guides2022.12.10 – 0709 – Voicing and Producing Audio GuidesAudio GuidesThese are pre-recorded guides for places such as museums, galleries and historic houses or street walks and are often on players you pick up...
- 2022 / 12 / 90708 – Voicing Audio Descriptions2022.12.09 – 0708 – Voicing Audio Descriptions Audio description – ADThis is a voice-over describing what is happening in the scene of a movie to benefit those who are visually impaired, who can hear...
- 2022 / 12 / 80707 – Growls and Grunts, Snorts and Squeaks2022.12.08 – 0707 – Growls and Grunts, Snorts and SqueaksAnimal noises This is not giving a human voice to an animal, but literally making growls and grunts, snorts and squeaks. (Yep, we’re talking voices and...
- 2022 / 12 / 70706 – Staccato Chickens and Hissing Snakes2022.12.07 – 0706 – Staccato Chickens and Hissing SnakesThen read your lines with these attributes, threading the ‘animal sounds’ into human speech: words are perhaps growled (as a ferocious dog might) or in...
- 2022 / 12 / 60705 – Animal Characterisations2022.12.06 – 0705 – Animal Characterisations Animal characterisationsAnthropomorphism is giving animals human-like characteristics and emotions – it’s the basis of many children’s books such as the famous...
- 2022 / 12 / 50704 – Advertisements / Commercials2022.12.05 – 0704 – Advertisements / Commercials Advertisements / CommercialsPerhaps one of the main attributes of a radio, tv or movie commercial read is a voice with charismatic qualities. That is one...
- 2022 / 12 / 40703 – Animal Noises, Political Ads, IVRs and VOGs: Other voiceover roles2022.12.04 – 0703 – Animal Noises, Political Ads, IVRs and VOGs: Other voiceover roles Advertisements / CommercialsAnimal characterisation and animal noisesAudio descriptionsAudio guidesBrand...
- 2022 / 12 / 30702 – At The End Of An Audiobook Recording2022.12.03 – 0702 – At The End Of An Audiobook Recording When recording Finish each session at an appropriate point in the plot – that’s usually at the end of a section, chapter or scene. It’s here that...
- 2022 / 12 / 20701 – Character Relationships In Audiobook Narration2022.12.02 – 0701 – Character Relationships In Audiobook Narration A further step may be to note the relationships between characters. As we have seen before we adapt our vocal style depending on who we are...
- 2022 / 12 / 10700 – Post-Dialogue Attributions In Audiobook Narration2022.12.01 – 0700 – Post-Dialogue Attributions In Audiobook NarrationMark any ‘post-dialogue attributions’, where the name of the person who just spoke is written after their statement, (“Merlin said”,...
- 2022 / 11 / 300699 – Preparing a Text For Audiobook Narration2022.11.30 – 0699 – Preparing a Text For Audiobook Narration Preparing the textSince you’re reading a long piece, it’s essential to skim the book beforehand. Mark unfamiliar words and check their...
- 2022 / 11 / 290698 – Story-telling For A Young Audience2022.11.29 – 0698 – Story-telling For A Young AudienceStory-telling for a young audienceFor younger pairs of ears, think particularly about the storytelling journey. Children’s books are often very much about...
- 2022 / 11 / 280697 – Potential Problems When Voicing Audiobook Characters2022.11.28 – 0697 – Potential Problems When Voicing Audiobook CharactersA potential problem - When you create a very distinctive voice for a minor character, who then has a greater role than you’d...
- 2022 / 11 / 270696 – Voicing ‘Minor Characters’ in Audiobook Narration2022.11.27 – 0696 – Voicing ‘Minor Characters’ in Audiobook NarrationMinor characters - You don’t need a totally unique voice for each character. Listeners know you are telling a story, not pretending to be...
- 2022 / 11 / 260695 – Audiobook Character Voices2022.11.26 – 0695 – Audiobook Character VoicesCharacter voices(This is in addition to the in-depth look at character voices in the ‘animation’ section previously.)The main character – Create a voice that you...
- 2022 / 11 / 250694 – Projection And Pace For The Audiobook Narrator2022.11.25 – 0694 – Projection And Pace For The Audiobook Narrator Projection – we have looked at loudness before, but as a quick reminder that with audiobooks especially, people will be listening alone...
- 2022 / 11 / 240693 – Impartiality For The Audiobook Narrator2022.11.24 – 0693 – Impartiality For The Audiobook Narrator Be interested, invested and informed …– only read the genres you enjoy to be more emotionally connected to the text and to draw the listener...
- 2022 / 11 / 230692 – Analysis and Agility For The Audiobook Narrator2022.11.23 – 0692 – Analysis and Agility For The Audiobook Narrator Analysis – be somewhat of a student of literature. Understand what makes a story, a story and how one moves through a sequence (the...
- 2022 / 11 / 220691 – The Audiobook Narrator’s *Own* Character2022.11.22 – 0691 – The Audiobook Narrator’s *Own* CharacterThe narrator’s own characterDepending on which POV you are reading the story from, your ‘character voice’ will be different. If you are one of the...
- 2022 / 11 / 210690 – The Narrator’s Various Points of Views2022.11.21 – 0690 – The Narrator’s Various Points of ViewsNarration - First understand who you, the narrator, are in the story. That is, whose point of view (POV) is the story told...
- 2022 / 11 / 200689 – Fiction Audiobook Narration Skills2022.11.20 – 0689 – Fiction Audiobook Narration SkillsFiction skills for an audiobook narratorFirst a few definitions:Solo narration – when a reader either differentiates between each character with their...
- 2022 / 11 / 190688 – Non-Fiction Audiobook Narration Skills2022.11.19 – 0688 – Non-Fiction Audiobook Narration SkillsNon-fiction for an audiobook narratorRecording a non-fiction text is considered by some to be more straightforward than recording fiction. That’s...
- 2022 / 11 / 180687 – Vocal, Physical and Mental Health For Narration2022.11.18 – 0687 – Vocal, Physical and Mental Health For NarrationGood vocal, physical and mental health – you will be spending a lot of time by yourself in a booth, concentrating, so you need to be mentally...
- 2022 / 11 / 170686 – Clarity, Consistency and Concentration in Voice Acting2022.11.17 – 0686 – Clarity, Consistency and Concentration in Voice Acting A clear voice – people will be spending a lot of time with you, so you need to have a voice that will not jar or grate on their...
- 2022 / 11 / 160685 – ‘Punch And Roll’ Voice Recording2022.11.16 – 0685 – ‘Punch And Roll’ Voice RecordingVOICE BOXLearn the ‘punch and roll’ technique to save recording timeThis is when you mark (‘punch in’) the point in your recorded audio where you made a...
- 2022 / 11 / 150684 – Voice Over Eye>Brain>Mouth Control2022.11.15 – 0684 – Voice Over Eye>Brain>Mouth Control Eye-Brain-Mouth Control – you have to be good at reading accurately, just sticking to the text. You will probably have skim-read the text before you...
- 2022 / 11 / 140683 – Narration Stamina2022.11.14 – 0683 – Narration Stamina Stamina – you will need to read a lot of words in a short period of time: 4-6 hours in front of a mic each day is not unheard of for an audiobook narrator. So, you...
- 2022 / 11 / 130682 – Natural Narration Foundations2022.11.13 – 0682 – Natural Narration Foundations Natural Narration FoundationsIn the main, we have been looking at short reads, commercials and news stories and the like, but sometimes you may have a longer...
- 2022 / 11 / 120681 – Audiobook Narration2022.11.12 – 0681 – Audiobook Narration Audiobook narrationAudiobooks have become increasingly popular[1] as people consume books while commuting, exercising or doing chores and with the ease of...
- 2022 / 11 / 110680 – Voice Acting In Gaming2022.11.11 – 0680 – Voice Acting In Gaming Games Voice acting in the video game business is similar to doing animation work, although the portrayals have to be more ‘realistic’ than say, those...
- 2022 / 11 / 100679 – Concatenation Concerns2022.11.10 – 0679 – Concatenation ConcernsCharacter creep can cause particular problems when combined with concatenation. This is where a voice-over has to read a short list of incomplete sentences, and then...
- 2022 / 11 / 90678 – Character Creep2022.11.09 – 0678 – Character CreepCharacter creepIf you try and be someone who you’re not[1], then there is a chance that over the course of a contract or studio session, your ‘persona’ might change. It may...
- 2022 / 11 / 80677 – Keeping In Character2022.11.08 – 0677 – Keeping In CharacterWhen you have developed a voice from scratch and you’re comfortable with it and do it well, keep it and add it to your cast of characters, and then build another...
- 2022 / 11 / 70676 – Vocal Exaggeration In Animation2022.11.07 – 0676 – Vocal Exaggeration In AnimationVocal exaggeration in animation[1]You must have the muscular strength to host the vocal gymnasium that is required in animation. Work on the instrument daily...
- 2022 / 11 / 60675 – Using Props To Get Into A Character Properly2022.11.06 – 0675 – Using Props To Get Into A Character ProperlyUsing props As well as holding yourself in a certain way to get into your character’s voice, some voice actors also hold an appropriate prop....
- 2022 / 11 / 50674 – Be A ‘Moody’ Voice Actor2022.11.05 – 0674 – Be A ‘Moody’ Voice ActorSo, develop various attitudes in your voice: the tone, volume, speed, and energy. And remember that a character is more than one ‘mood’ and will go through various...
- 2022 / 11 / 40673 – Animation Attitudes2022.11.04 – 0673 – Animation AttitudesAnimation ‘attitudes’You should be good at reacting as well as acting, be able to read a situation and know what your character would do in that situation. This is not...
- 2022 / 11 / 30672 – More Non-Verbal Sounds in Voice Acting2022.11.03 – 0672 – More Non-Verbal Sounds in Voice Acting· The performance may also require you to bring more physicality to your voice: your character may be...
- 2022 / 11 / 20671 – Non-Verbal Sounds in Voice Acting2022.11.02 – 0671 – Non-Verbal Sounds in Voice Acting· What is the rest of your body doing? The face obviously, but also your back and arms… Physically become...
- 2022 / 11 / 10670 – Voice Acting Mannerisms2022.11.01 – 0670 – Voice Acting MannerismsOther voice mannerismsNow consider ‘fleshing out’ your character. Don’t add to the words on the page, but don’t only read the words on the page....
- 2022 / 10 / 310669 – How Visuals Help Your Animation VoiceOver2022.10.31 – 0669 – How Visuals Help Your Animation VoiceOverOf course, attributes of animated characters are usually extreme and will have been drawn in conjunction with the story editor. Everything you see...
- 2022 / 10 / 290668 – Getting An Animation Voice That Fits The Visuals2022.10.30 – 0668 – Getting An Animation Voice That Fits The Visuals Getting a voice that fits the visuals When auditioning for an animation role you will be sent a ‘vocal reference’, a few lines of the...
- 2022 / 10 / 280667 – Your Character’s ‘Voicernality’2022.10.29 – 0667 – Your Character’s ‘Voicernality’ It’s more than the ‘voice’Remember that a character’s voice (including your very own!) is partly based on one’s physicality: how they talk is affected...
- 2022 / 10 / 270666 – The Value of Creating Character Catchphrases2022.10.28 – 0666 – The Value of Creating Character Catchphrases For example, perhaps you have created a character voice you call ‘Perfect Pat’. Pat is, as their name implies, bright and positive and...
- 2022 / 10 / 260665 – Creating a Character Catalogue2022.10.27 – 0665 – Creating a Character CataloguePlay around with it and practice and then when you think you have the character, give each a name (‘Smoking Susan’, ‘Sharp-suited Shaun’…) and a bit of a...
- 2022 / 10 / 250664 – How To Steal A Character Voice2022.10.26 – 0664 – How To Steal A Character VoiceConcentrate on listening, not just hearing but truly paying attention to voices:· their...
- 2022 / 10 / 240663 – Creating a Cast of Core Character Voices2022.10.25 – 0663 – Creating a Cast of Core Character Voices Creating a cast of core character voices(This section is also of use for the following part on ‘audiobook narration’ when you may be required...
- 2022 / 10 / 230662 – Characters in Cartoons, Animations and Gaming Acting2022.10.24 – 0662 – Characters in Cartoons, Animations and Gaming ActingCharacters in Cartoons, Animations and Gaming Acting This is when the character you develop a voice for is heard but not seen in, for...
- 2022 / 10 / 220661 – The Variety of Voiceover Opportunities 22022.10.23 – 0661 – The Variety of Voiceover Opportunities 2· Gaming – Acting in character for online games· Live...
- 2022 / 10 / 210660 – The Variety of Voiceover Opportunities 12022.10.22 – 0660 – The Variety of Voiceover Opportunities 1Voiceover CategoriesThese could be as wide-ranging as – but not limited to – the following:...
- 2022 / 10 / 200659 – Specialised Scriptreading Skills2022.10.21 – 0659 – Specialised Scriptreading Skills This chapter is looking at the variety of scripts you may be asked to read as a voice actor and the specialised skills that are called for in those...
- 2022 / 10 / 190658 – Re-takes and Re-records2022.10.20 – 0658 – Re-takes and Re-records Re-takes and Re-recordsIf at all possible, try to avoid having to re-do lines. Whether in a pro-studio or a home-studio, the re-take may stand...
- 2022 / 10 / 180657 – Avoiding Studio Hiccups Caused By Hiccups2022.10.19 – 0657 – Avoiding Studio Hiccups Caused By HiccupsSneezing and hiccupsThis is another situation which will come sooner or later, and may either be a sneeze you feel approaching or one that suddenly...
- 2022 / 10 / 170656 – On-Mic Panting2022.10.18 – 0656 – On-Mic Panting Being out of breathThis usually happens because you’ve run in the studio late or in the nick of time. You’ve probably not done a sprint, but the tense situation, panic...
- 2022 / 10 / 160655 – Why We Get Studio Giggles2022.10.17 – 0655 – Why We Get Studio GigglesThese are signs of nervousness and panic. Such laughter is seldom sparked off by genuine humour; it is the psyche’s safety valve blowing to release a build up of...
- 2022 / 10 / 150654 – Dead Good Advice On Studio Corpsing2022.10.16 – 0654 – Dead Good Advice On Studio Corpsing Corpsing (that is, laughing uncontrollably) ‘There’s one hazard that no amount of preparation can avoid: the collapse into inappropriate...
- 2022 / 10 / 140653 – When your Insert Goes Down2022.10.15 – 0653 – When your Insert Goes DownIn a radio or podcast studio, confusing the audience with technical jargon can compound the problem, like: “I’m sorry, but that insert seems to have gone down”....
- 2022 / 10 / 130652 – Classic Voice-Over Cock Ups2022.10.14 – 0652 – Classic Voice-Over Cock Ups“Police are finding it difficult to come up with a solution to the murders … the commissioner says the victims are unwilling to co-operate.” (US Radio)“Well, the...
- 2022 / 10 / 120651 – When To Expect Verbal Trips and Slips2022.10.13 – 0651 – When To Expect Verbal Trips and SlipsMany fluffs occur when you are expecting trouble, like a difficult foreign name, or when you have already fluffed and their mind is side-tracked. The...
- 2022 / 10 / 110650 – Verbal Trips and Slips2022.10.12 – 0650 – Verbal Trips and SlipsTrips and slips‘Things’ happen. Verbal and technical slips and trips. Mouths and machines can stop working. The wrong bit of audio can come out of either of them!...
- 2022 / 10 / 100649 – Practicing Talking To Time2022.10.11 – 0649 – Practicing Talking To Time Practice Talking To TimeAs we saw in episode 427Take some copy which has a required duration indicated on it, and read it aloud like you might in a demo,...
- 2022 / 10 / 90648 – Talking To Time2022.10.10 – 0648 – Talking To Time Talking to time Developing a sense of time is hugely important for most people speaking ‘on mic’.As a voice artist you may need to record a script to the half-second...
- 2022 / 10 / 80647 – Why We Hit Script-Reading Speed Bumps2022.10.09 – 0647 – Why We Hit Script-Reading Speed Bumps Why We Hit Speed Bumps· Not being prepped-up, to rev-up – if your engine of articulation is not...
- 2022 / 10 / 70646 – Speed-Reading2022.10.08 – 0646 – Speed-Reading Speed readingWith commercial reads especially, you have to be able to talk to time, and that may mean talking faster than you may usually do. But this can often lead to...
- 2022 / 10 / 60645 – Rehearsing Cold Reading2022.10.07 – 0645 – Rehearsing Cold ReadingRehearsing Cold ReadingIt is easy to practice this at home or at work – sight-read stories from the newspaper, or print off the national summary and make yourself...
- 2022 / 10 / 50644 – Script-Reading and Peripheral Vision2022.10.06 – 0644 – Script-Reading and Peripheral VisionPeripheral visionIt also helps to be able to read in your head more than a few words ahead of what you are actually saying out loud. If a story has just...
- 2022 / 10 / 40643 – Warming Up To Cold Reads2022.10.05– 0643 – Warming Up To Cold ReadsWarming up to cold readsSight-reading is what many rolling news presenters have to do: pick up a news script and read it straight off, with the correct pacing and...
- 2022 / 10 / 30642 – Sight-Reading Scripts Tips2022.10.04– 0642 – Sight-Reading Scripts TipsCold-Reading (or ‘sight-reading’ or ‘off-the-page’) This is when you read a script aloud previously sight-unseen. You’ve not had a chance to proof read it, spot...
- 2022 / 10 / 20641 – Extracting Distracting Fillers 22022.10.03– 0641 – Extracting Distracting Fillers 2 · Increase your confidence and reduce your nerves – again, we have looked at this topic together in the...
- 2022 / 10 / 10640 – Extracting Distracting Fillers 12022.10.02 – 0640 – Extracting Distracting Fillers 1 Overcoming FillersNot all filler words need to be cut out, especially if you’re aiming to sound conversational (although it would be odd in a news...
- 2022 / 9 / 300639 – Why “Umm” May Make You Sound Dumb2022.10.01 – 0639 – Why “Umm” May Make You Sound DumbYou may not realise you’re using these words, but they could be really distracting to your listeners and the impression they give is that you’re poorly...
- 2022 / 9 / 290638 – Do You Like “like”?2022.09.30 – 0638 – Do You Like “like”?Do you like “like”?Many people find the developing use of this word infuriating. Critics say that it makes speakers sound stupid (“It’s like, when you’re, like…”), and...
- 2022 / 9 / 280637 – Umm, Err, Well, Kinda2022.09.29 – 0637 – Umm, Err, Well, Kinda Filler wordsIt’s easy for your ad-libs, conversations and questions to be littered with verbal crutches (properly called...
- 2022 / 9 / 270636 – Giving Good ‘Libbing’2022.09.28 – 0636 – Giving Good ‘Libbing’Giving Good ‘Libbing’Be aware of adlibbing minefields. You may find yourself travelling down a conversational cul-de-sac unless you are very sure of your territory. So...
- 2022 / 9 / 260635 – Killing Your Presentation With Bullets2022.09.27 – 0635 – Killing Your Presentation With BulletsKilling It With BulletsUsually what appears to be a spontaneous adlib has actually been prepared to a certain extent, either a moment before we speak...
- 2022 / 9 / 250634 – When To Ditch The Studio Script2022.09.26 – 0634 – When To Ditch The Studio ScriptThe role of the scriptA script is great when you need to fit in the accepted role as a broadcaster, maybe on the news bulletins or news programmes. It is...
- 2022 / 9 / 240633 – Other Voice Skills: Adlibs, Cold Reading and Talking To Time2022.09.25 – 0633 – Other Voice Skills: Adlibs, Cold Reading and Talking To Time OTHER SPEAKING SKILLSAn alphabetical list of other conversational considerations, from ad-libs to coping with verbal...
- 2022 / 9 / 230632 – Giving Yourself Voice Direction2022.09.24 - 0632 – Giving Yourself Voice DirectionSelf-directingIf you are a voice actor working from home, an ‘amateur’ podcaster[1], or broadcaster without an active producer or manager, then you will need...
- 2022 / 9 / 220631 – Your Role As A Voice Script ‘Meaning Miner’2022.09.23 - 0631 – Your Role As A Voice Script ‘Meaning Miner’Your Role As A ‘Meaning Miner’Sometimes when direction or a Brief is unclear, you need to do the hard work yourself. Well, you should always do...
- 2022 / 9 / 210630 – Voice-Over Studio Direction2022.09.22 - 0630 – Voice-Over Studio DirectionTaking directionPay attention, listen, ask questions, take advice and understand the process. Some directors don’t know how to explain things very well and...
- 2022 / 9 / 200629 – Getting Feedback On Your Voice2022.09.21 - 0629 – Getting Feedback On Your Voice VOICE BOXGiving and Receiving Notes Directors:· Only have you give the feedback not everyone in the control...
- 2022 / 9 / 190628 – Voice Over Guide Tracks2022.09.20 - 0628 – Voice-Over Guide TracksGuide Track In some circumstances, a ‘dummy track’ of someone else reading the voice-over script may already have been recorded before you go into a...
- 2022 / 9 / 180627 – How Voice Directors Can Help You Feel Part Of The Production Team2022.09.19 - 0627 – How Voice Directors Can Help You Feel Part Of The Production TeamVOICE BOXDirectors – make your talent feel part of the team:· Introduce them...
- 2022 / 9 / 170626 – The Limits Of Line-Reading2022.09.18 - 0626 – The Limits Of Line-ReadingSecond, in asking you to “sound like this” it’s likely they will be putting other elements into their read that they may not realise. And you as a professional...
- 2022 / 9 / 160625 – Line-Reading For Voice Training2022.09.17 - 0625 – Line-Reading For Voice TrainingVOICE BOXLine readingA director may read your script to you, in the style they want you to emulate: a line-reading. This is slightly different from a...
- 2022 / 9 / 150624 – What’s Really Happening in a 1-by-1 Voice Over Read2022.09.16 - 0624 – What’s Really Happening in a 1-by-1 Voice Over Read· “I must be rubbish. They’re asking me to record every line one-by-one!” – this isn’t...
- 2022 / 9 / 140623 – Don’t Nix The Mix2022.09.15 - 0623 – Don’t Nix The Mix · “Is this going to be mixed with music?” – as we saw before, when you talk with music underneath you, it affects your...
- 2022 / 9 / 130622 – Take Your Time and Sound (More Than) Fine2022.09.14 - 0622 – Take Your Time and Sound (More Than) Fine· “This is taking ages…” Every job will have its challenges and it’ll all take as long as it takes....
- 2022 / 9 / 120621 – What To Do If Your Script Has Alarming Timings2022.09.13 - 0621 – What To Do If Your Script Has Alarming Timings· “There’s no way I can fit all of this script into just 30 seconds” – there are too many words...
- 2022 / 9 / 110620 – Don’t Introduce An Excuse For Your Poor Voice Performance2022.09.12 - 0620 – Don’t Introduce An Excuse For Your Poor Voice Performance· “Yeah, I’m rubbish today because the cat was sick, I had a row with my daughter...
- 2022 / 9 / 100619 – When It Hits That the Script Is Sh*t2022.09.11 - 0619 – When It Hits That the Script Is Sh*t· “This script is really bad. It’s so poorly written, it makes no sense and ungrammatical” – don’t...
- 2022 / 9 / 90618 – How To Return After A Verbal Slip2022.09.10 - 0618 – How To Return After A Verbal SlipTurning Voice-Over Worries Into ‘Wonderful’· “Sorry, I slipped on that. Sorry. I gotta concentrate. That was...
- 2022 / 9 / 80617 – How To Make A Sound Engineer Your Friend2022.09.09 - 0617 – How To Make A Sound Engineer Your FriendHow To Make A Sound Engineer Your Friend· Turning up on time and being ready...
- 2022 / 9 / 70616 – The Voice-Over Studio Workflow2022.09.08 - 0616 – The Voice-Over Studio WorkflowLet’s just take a quick look at what happens when you go into a voiceover studio.· Read the Brief and the...
- 2022 / 9 / 60615 – Voice Director Skills2022.09.07 - 0615 – Voice Director SkillsThe skills of a director[1]· They are a bridge between the actor and client. They are likely to work with voice artists...
- 2022 / 9 / 50614 – Talking About Studio Talkbacks2022.09.06 - 0614 – Talking About Studio TalkbacksTalk-back micsThe gallery production area will have mics which are used to ‘talk back’ to you in the studio. Sometimes these may be left on (or ‘open’) as you...
- 2022 / 9 / 40613 – How ‘Control Room Characters’ May Shape Your Voice2022.09.05 - 0613 – How ‘Control Room Characters’ May Shape Your VoiceThe Control Room (AKA: ‘gallery’, ‘production area’, ‘ops’ [operations area], or simply ‘studio’!)While you are alone in the studio, other...
- 2022 / 9 / 30612 – Taking Voice Production Notes2022.09.04 - 0612 – Taking Voice Production NotesAlways keep a record of the takes that you do in a session, the number and the direction requested of you for it. That’s because in some recordings you may...
- 2022 / 9 / 20611 – What To Take Into A Voice Recording Session2022.09.03 - 0611 – What To Take Into A Voice Recording SessionPerformanceOk here we go. All that training and preparing comes to the moment the red light goes on! But we’re not there yet. Not...
- 2022 / 9 / 10610 – Top ‘Studio Day’ Tips2022.09.02 - 0610 – Top ‘Studio Day’ TipsOn the day of a recording or live ‘mic moment’· Eat early - Don’t take a growling bear into the studio with you: the mic...
- 2022 / 8 / 310609 – What Is Not In Your Briefs2022.09.01 - 0609 – What Is Not In Your Briefs· Context is important for the style of the read. Words on a page describing a family of tigers, their lifestyle...
- 2022 / 8 / 300608 – Your Voice Mixed With Music2022.08.31 - 0608 – Your Voice Mixed With MusicMusic and rough cuts – commercials, commentaries, documentaries and so on, often have the voiceover second-tracked together to play over the top of a music...
- 2022 / 8 / 290607 – Your Voice Over Role2022.08.30– 0607 – Your Voice Over RoleWhat is your role? – You are never ‘the voiceover’. Depending on the script, the situation, the story, the audience and so on, you may be a frazzled dad coping with the...
- 2022 / 8 / 280606 – Who Will Hear Your Voice?2022.08.29– 0606 – Who Will Hear Your Voice?Where will this recording be played? – Again, it can change your tone as a voice actor if you know that it’s for TV or radio or cinema, or to be played in an...
- 2022 / 8 / 270605 – What’s In Your Briefs2022.08.28– 0605 – What’s In Your BriefsWhat’s in your briefsWho is this for? - In other words, who is your target audience, the listener you want to hear this message and act upon it. That should usually be...
- 2022 / 8 / 260604 – The Brief For A Voice-Over Recording2022.08.27– 0604 – The Brief For A Voice-Over RecordingThe brief for a script recordingA written brief, a short but clear sheet of directions, will help everyone involved in a recording session in several...
- 2022 / 8 / 250603 – Pre-Prep To Keep In Step2022.08.26– 0603 – Pre-Prep To Keep In StepFor radio and podcast presenters specifically, your preparation may include:· Planned spontaneity - Have a rough idea...
- 2022 / 8 / 240602 – On The Day Prep To Get A Better Voice2022.08.25– 0602 – On The Day Prep To Get A Better VoicePrepping promotes polished performances. ‘With-the-script’ and ‘on-the-day’ Preparation.For anyone talking on mic, your preparation will...
- 2022 / 8 / 230601 – How The Way We Sound Shapes Our Identities2022.08.24– 0601 – How The Way We Sound Shapes Our IdentitiesHow The Way We Sound Shapes Our IdentitiesOur voices convey so much more than just information. They can tell other people something essential...
- 2022 / 8 / 220600 – Vocal Confidence Through Familiarisation With The Script And Situation2022.08.23– 0600 – Vocal Confidence Through Familiarisation With The Script And Situation · Familiarisation with the subject – the knowledge of the script, not...
- 2022 / 8 / 210599 – Vocal Confidence Through Familiarisation With Yourself2022.08.22– 0599 – Vocal Confidence Through Familiarisation With Yourself · Familiarisation with yourself – we have to turn nervous self-consciousness to...
- 2022 / 8 / 200598 – Vocal Confidence Through Relaxed Breathing2022.08.21– 0598 – Vocal Confidence Through Relaxed Breathing · Relaxed breathing – we have looked at this a few times. If you breathe properly your...
- 2022 / 8 / 190597 – The Vocal Confidence Quotient2022.08.20– 0597 – The Vocal Confidence Quotient The Confidence QuotientEffortless attention is when the challenge and the skill, are in balance. That balance is called ‘confidence’. To put it...
- 2022 / 8 / 180596 – Work Variety To Increase Your Vocal Experience2022.08.19– 0596 – Work Variety To Increase Your Vocal Experience Work varietySome of that practice may come from lots of work in which you’ll be experiencing different kinds of reads and learning new...
- 2022 / 8 / 170595 – Why We Sound Different In Our Headphones2022.08.18– 0595 – Why We Sound Different In Our HeadphonesSelf-feedbackYour voice is very personal to you – get used to hearing it, learn to like it – but be aware of what you need to do to improve it. And...
- 2022 / 8 / 160594 – Wrapping Up Presenting Unboxing Videos2022.08.17– 0594 – Wrapping Up Presenting Unboxing Videos On screen presenters, whether that is for livestreams, or video conferencing or pre-recorded videos for YouTube or webinars, often find it...
- 2022 / 8 / 150593 – How To Practice Ad Libbing Skills2022.08.16– 0593 – How To Practice Ad Libbing Skills Looking lotsReally looking at the world around you. On your walk or commute to work (be careful if you are driving!), take an effort to notice what you...
- 2022 / 8 / 140592 – How To Practice Talking To Time2022.08.15– 0592 – How To Practice Talking To TimePractice Talking To TimeYou will also benefit from being able to ‘talk to time’, that is to fill exactly 10 seconds - or 7 or 12 or whatever - and to make...
- 2022 / 8 / 130591 – The ‘Two Brains’ Skill You Need To Master2022.08.14– 0591 – The ‘Two Brains’ Skill You Need To MasterPractice Having Two BrainsA way to practice receiving information and delivering it at the same time is to ‘parrot’ someone else’s news bulletin, or...
- 2022 / 8 / 120590 – How To Practice Sight-Reading2022.08.13– 0590 – How To Practice Sight-ReadingPractice Sight-ReadingAnother way to help you sight-read is to read aloud and ad-lib around the credits at the end of a TV show as they scroll up. Doing...
- 2022 / 8 / 110589 – How To Practice Script-Reading Accuracy2022.08.12– 0589 – How To Practice Script-Reading AccuracyPractice AccuracyKeep up your eye-to-mouth accuracy by reading lots of every style, and out loud. It could be bedtime stories to the kids, newspaper...
- 2022 / 8 / 100588 – The Cheeky Hack To Sound Like Other Voice Artists2022.08.11– 0588 – The Cheeky Hack To Sound Like Other Voice Artists Listen to Other Voice Demos Go onto voice agent websites and listen to the demos of other voice artists. After all, they have got an...
- 2022 / 8 / 90587 – Life’s Free Voice Training Opportunities2022.08.10– 0587 – Life’s Free Voice Training OpportunitiesListening lotsDon’t skip through the commercials on radio or TV, the internet or cinema! Watch and listen to every ad that comes on.[1]...
- 2022 / 8 / 80586 – 10,000 Kicks To A Better Voice2022.08.09– 0586 – 10,000 Kicks To A Better Voice Continual Practice I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once,but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.Bruce...
- 2022 / 8 / 70585 – The 3-P Formula For A Better Voice2022.08.08– 0585 – The 3-P Formula For A Better VoiceTHE THREE P’s FORMULAIf you want to claim you have a professional presentation (albeit sounding adlibbed), then you need to work at your craft.In the same...
- 2022 / 8 / 60584 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 32022.08.07– 0584 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 3 Look at the lens· Keep looking the camera lens ‘in the eye’ in the same way as you’d look at someone if...
- 2022 / 8 / 50583 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 22022.08.06– 0583 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 2 Rehearse· Have the font set to suit your sight. Although, the larger the font, the fewer words will appear at a...
- 2022 / 8 / 40582 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 12022.08.05– 0582 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 1 How to be an auto-cutie The speed of the read· The prompter operator should follow your pace. That is, you...
- 2022 / 8 / 30581 – Prompts On Using Your Voice With A Teleprompt2022.08.04– 0581 – Prompts On Using Your Voice With A Teleprompt TelepromptersWhile we are talking about reading from a screen, a few words on systems[1] which project the words you have to read, onto...
- 2022 / 8 / 20580 – Video Call Voice Confidence Tricks2022.08.03– 0580 – Video Call Voice Confidence TricksVideo confidence tricks:So once you have set the lights and background how you want them, find the button on your video-platform that allows you to turn...
- 2022 / 8 / 10579 – Why Video Calls Lead To Vocal Loading2022.08.02– 0579 – Why Video Calls Lead To Vocal LoadingBut then neither is the whole tech and protocol of video-conferencing:Talking to people we can see and hear but are not physically with and so can’t see...
- 2022 / 7 / 310578 – How ‘Zoom Dysmorphia’ Affects Your Video-Call Voice2022.08.01– 0578 – How ‘Zoom Dysmorphia’ Affects Your Video-Call Voice How ‘Zoom Dysmorphia’ Affects Your Video-Call Voice [1]Seeing ourselves (and others) on screen can cause micro-stresses, and so,...
- 2022 / 7 / 300577 – How To Prepare Your voice For Video-Calls2022.07.31– 0577 – How To Prepare Your voice For Video-Calls How Your Schedule Affects Your Video-Call VoiceVideo-calls are perhaps more likely for those working from home, but try not to roll out of bed and...
- 2022 / 7 / 290576 – Why Video Calls Are Exhausting2022.07.30 – 0576 – Why Video Calls Are Exhausting And don’t forget video-calls are really quite exhausting[1]And dullness saps your energy – mentally, physically and...
- 2022 / 7 / 280575 – Why Voices Are Raised On Video Calls2022.07.29 – 0575 – Why Voices Are Raised On Video Calls Why voices are raised on video calls Research has shown that when we cannot hear someone well because of noise, we speak louder, and make...
- 2022 / 7 / 270574 – The Zoom Settings To Make You Sound Better2022.07.28 – 0574 – The Zoom Settings To Make You Sound BetterHow to sound better on ZoomThere are a few tweaks that you can make in the settings that will make a huge difference to your voice. Zoom...
- 2022 / 7 / 260573 - … And What You Can Do About It.2022.07.27 – 0573 - … And What You Can Do About It.It stands to reason that the higher quality the input, the better you'll sound to your listeners, and it’s important to sound your best if you hope to leave...
- 2022 / 7 / 250572 - How You Hear Affects Your Video-Call Voice…2022.07.26 – 0572 - How You Hear Affects Your Video-Call Voice… How You Hear Affects Your Video-Call VoiceVideo-chat software compresses audio in a conversation, so it ends up not as clear as being...
- 2022 / 7 / 240571 - How You Sit Affects Your Video-Call Voice2022.07.25 – 0571 - How You Sit Affects Your Video-Call Voice How You Sit Affects Your Video-Call Voice Bad posture can affect how you sound: · We are...
- 2022 / 7 / 230570 – How Appearing On Video Calls Affect Your Voice2022.07.24 – 0570 – How Appearing On Video Calls Affect Your VoiceLet’s briefly spend a few days looking at your voice on video such as home-studio webinars or YouTubes and Zoom-type classes or...
- 2022 / 7 / 220569 – A Piece On Earpieces2022.07.23 – 0569 – A Piece On EarpiecesEarpiecesBecause TV presenters don’t usually wear headphones on screen (although social media video presenters often do), they have small earpieces which perform the...
- 2022 / 7 / 210568 – What To Think Of When Buying Studio Headphones2022.07.22 – 0568 – What To Think Of When Buying Studio HeadphonesHeadphone considerationsA pretty good pair of headphones are worth it:· Not all headphones will...
- 2022 / 7 / 200567 – Headphones: The ‘One Ear On, One Ear Off’ Style2022.07.21 – 0567 – Headphones: The ‘One Ear On, One Ear Off’ StyleThe case for only partly wearing headphones Some presenters wear headphones so that one ear is covered and the other is not, as it helps them...
- 2022 / 7 / 190566 – Why Some Presenters Go ‘Headless’2022.07.20 – 0566 – Why Some Presenters Go ‘Headless’The case for not wearing headphonesSome voice-overs don’t wear headphones when they record their spot, so they can be more ‘in the moment of the copy’...
- 2022 / 7 / 180565 – SQUEAEAEAL!! Headphone Volume And Feedback2022.07.19 – 0565 – SQUEAEAEAL!! Headphone Volume And FeedbackHeadphone volume and feedbackIn a studio you will be able to control the volume of the headphones to a certain extent. This is though, usually...
- 2022 / 7 / 170564 – How Wearing Headphones Improves Your Voice2022.07.18 – 0564 – How Wearing Headphones Improves Your VoiceWearing headphones improves your voice and presentationWearing headphones gives you immediate feedback on how you sound, and so you can make...
- 2022 / 7 / 160563 – The Weird Things About Hearing Yourself Through Headphones2022.07.17 – 0563 – The Weird Things About Hearing Yourself Through Headphones Hearing yourself through headphones “Headphones take your ears from the side of your head and put them right in front...
- 2022 / 7 / 150562 – Three *More* Reasons You Need Studio Headphones2022.07.16 – 0562 – Three *More* Reasons You Need Studio Headphones· To hear a ‘split feed’, when the sound in one ear of the headphones is different from that...
- 2022 / 7 / 140561 – Three Reasons You Need Studio Headphones2022.07.15 – 0561 – Three Reasons You Need Studio HeadphonesMonitors (or loudspeakers / speakers):So we can hear the final mix of recorded audio in a room-situation (that is, without headphones), so several...
- 2022 / 7 / 130560 – From Microphones To Headphones2022.07.14 – 0560 – From Microphones To HeadphonesMONITORS AND HEADPHONESThese are all ways to hear audio while in the studio, either the audio that we are creating inside it or audio from another source or...
- 2022 / 7 / 120559 – Using A Mic, Right2022.07.13 – 0559 – Using A Mic, RightFinal mic thoughtsThe mic is your friend so look after it. Treat it with respect and don’t shout at it. It is there to help you, but it is sensitive.Having said that it...
- 2022 / 7 / 110558 – Studio Bacteria2022.07.12 – 0558 – Studio Bacteria Pop shields, filters, headphones and desk controls in radio stations are a breeding ground for bacteria and Valhalla for viruses, with all the spit, sweat and skin...
- 2022 / 7 / 100557 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Sibilance2022.07.11 – 0557 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: SibilanceSibilanceThis is ‘too much’ (whatever that is) of an ‘s’ sound, and in our line of work the pitch of that sound can be picked up and exaggerated by the...
- 2022 / 7 / 90556 – Pop Screens and Filters2022.07.10 – 0556 – Pop Screens and Filters Pop filters[1] work by either displacing or slowing down the flow of the air, to make it less aggressive on the mic head. There are two kinds.There’s the foam...
- 2022 / 7 / 80555 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Popping Ps2022.07.09 – 0555 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Popping PsPlosives (or: ‘pops’)This is the name for the small blast of air that hits the microphone when someone says words starting with the letter ‘p’. Put your...
- 2022 / 7 / 70554 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Off-Mic Audio2022.07.08 – 0554 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Off-Mic AudioOff mic audioIf your voice is off-mic, it will sound thin, muffled and distant. Move closer to the mic, speaking more clearly across its top (not...
- 2022 / 7 / 60553 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Mouth Noise2022.07.07 – 0553 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Mouth NoiseMouth noiseWe all have this to some extent, the sound of too much saliva in the mouth, or too little! The sound someone may make as they open their mouth...
- 2022 / 7 / 50552 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Interference and Hum2022.07.06 – 0552 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Interference and HumInterference and humThis is another kind of distortion, usually from external factors such as air-con units, mobile phone signals (not phones...
- 2022 / 7 / 40551 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Hiss2022.07.05 – 0551 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: HissHiss (or: ‘static’)This is usually caused when levels are set incorrectly during the recording and so the mic is picking up and boosting the ambient noise of an...
- 2022 / 7 / 30550 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Echos2022.07.04 – 0550 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: EchosEchoIt’s not quite the same echo as you get when talking in a tunnel or cave, where your sound comes back a split second later, but it’s the same principle: the...
- 2022 / 7 / 20549 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Recording Distortion2022.07.03 – 0549 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Recording DistortionDistortion (or: ‘clipping’, ‘overmodding’)When the equipment is set at too high a level for the incoming audio, the resulting recording is...
- 2022 / 7 / 10548 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Clicks2022.07.02 – 0548 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Clicks Clicks Seemingly inexplicable clicks and bumps on a recording can often be traced to handling noise from the microphone. In a studio put the mic on mount...
- 2022 / 6 / 300547 – Listen Out For These Common Microphone Muck-Ups2022.07.01 – 0547 – Listen Out For These Common Microphone Muck-UpsAUDIO TROUBLESHOOTING Basic studio sound problemsForgetting to put the mic on or turn it on – even pros very occasionally omit to attach a...
- 2022 / 6 / 290546 – Noise-Gates and Ducking2022.06.30 – 0546 – Noise-Gates and DuckingNoise gating controls the loudness at which a sound will be picked up or recorded. If it’s too low a level, it simply will not be allowed to pass through the ‘gate’,...
- 2022 / 6 / 280545 – Equalisation, Compressors and De-Essers2022.06.29 – 0545 – Equalisation, Compressors and De-EssersEqualization – or EQ – is a form of audio processing which allows you (or rather the studio engineer) adjust the volume level of a frequency (or...
- 2022 / 6 / 270544 – Studio Tech That Could Make Your Voice Sound Great2022.06.28 – 0544 – Studio Tech That Could Make Your Voice Sound GreatAudio ProcessingThere are technical ways (such as EQ and compression) of adjusting the voice that is being (or has been) recorded to...
- 2022 / 6 / 260543 – Mike’s Mic Problem: A Case Study2022.06.27 – 0543 – Mike’s Mic Problem: A Case Study Mike was referred for voice help by his studio engineer – a rather unusual route to consultation. The engineer’s problem was that where he placed the...
- 2022 / 6 / 250542 – Your Mic Levels Mixed With Music2022.06.26 – 0542 – Your Mic Levels Mixed With MusicYour levels with musicWe looked at the use of music beds before, but the important thing to remember here is the balance of levels between the music and...
- 2022 / 6 / 240541 – Your Mic Levels With Headphones2022.06.25 – 0541 – Your Mic Levels With HeadphonesYour levels with headphonesIf you notice a lower level in your headphones, you might begin to speak more loudly to compensate, and suddenly you’re in a...
- 2022 / 6 / 230540 – Mics At Noisy Events2022.06.24 – 0540 – Mics At Noisy EventsVOICE BOXMics at a Noisy EventIf you are simply shouting over other noises (perhaps to convey the excitement of the event[1])...
- 2022 / 6 / 220539 – The Magic Balance Between Mic Position, Projection and Recording Levels2022.06.23 – 0539 – The Magic Balance Between Mic Position, Projection and Recording Levels You can increase the basic loudness of your voice by turning up the gain[1] on your mic, but this will make you...
- 2022 / 6 / 210538 – Maddening Over-Modding2022.06.22 – 0538 – Maddening Over-Modding On occasion it may be impossible to anticipate external noise and so be unable to use any of the techniques described above, and therefore over-modding may be...
- 2022 / 6 / 200537 – How To Fix A Recorded Level That’s Too High… Or Low2022.06.21 – 0537 – How To Fix A Recorded Level That’s Too High… Or LowIf your mic level is too lowYour ‘live’ level can be boosted, not just with the main microphone channel but also the booster ‘gain’...
- 2022 / 6 / 190536 – Automatic Level Control2022.06.20 – 0536 – Automatic Level ControlAutomatic Level Control versus ManualIn a home recording studio, your mixing desk or the recording set-up on a video call may have an ‘automatic level control’ that...
- 2022 / 6 / 180535 – Why A Studio Engineer Wants To Know About Your Breakfast2022.06.19 – 0535 – Why A Studio Engineer Wants To Know About Your BreakfastWhen asked for “a bit for level”, it is surprisingly difficult to think of what to say! It sounds obvious but many people...
- 2022 / 6 / 170534 – “A Bit For Level, Please”2022.06.18 – 0534 – “A Bit For Level, Please”“A bit for level”Part of working out your correct mic position before you start recording or go live, will involve of course, you speaking in to the mic so your...
- 2022 / 6 / 160533 – Don’t Interfere With the Sound Engineer2022.06.17 – 0533 – Don’t Interfere With the Sound EngineerA quick word to be kind to your sound engineer. This is the person in a voiceover or dubbing studio who is likely to be doing the technical side of...
- 2022 / 6 / 150532 – Why You Need To Love Your LUFS2022.06.16 – 0532 – Why You Need To Love Your LUFSSound levels are gauged with decibels and ‘LKFS’ and LUFS’[1] and on studio displays which light up vertically, or with needles that wiggle, but essentially...
- 2022 / 6 / 140531 – Loudness Standards2022.06.15 – 0531 – Loudness StandardsIn a network or voice-over studio, a sound engineer will adjust your volume settings so the volume of voice is balanced with a similar level of those of other sources, be...
- 2022 / 6 / 130530 – How Recording Levels Affect Your Voice2022.06.14 – 0530 – How Recording Levels Affect Your VoiceSo, you have optimised your recording space as far as you are able, and learnt about mic technique – knowledge of each will help you ‘get a better...
- 2022 / 6 / 120529 – What To Wear ‘On-Mic’2022.06.13 – 0529 – What To Wear ‘On-Mic’What you wear ‘on mic’The microphone is a sensitive piece of equipment which will ‘hear’ everything it can. That means your voice, your breathing, the squeak of a...
- 2022 / 6 / 110528 – On-Mic Breathing2022.06.12 – 0528 – On-Mic BreathingTake a breath before opening the mic, so the first thing a listener hears is a word not a gasp. Also beware of lip-smacks when you take subsequent breaths when you are on...
- 2022 / 6 / 100527 – The Off-Chance of Being Off-Mic2022.06.11 – 0527 – The Off-Chance of Being Off-MicIt may sound obvious but make sure that you know which part of the microphone to talk into! With some you talk into the top, with others you talk into the...
- 2022 / 6 / 90526 – Speaking On Mic2022.06.10 – 0526 – Speaking On MicSpeaking on micSo you are in the booth and you have your script stand, then you need to work out how you can talk into the microphone, but also be able to read from the...
- 2022 / 6 / 80525 – Finding The ‘Sweet Spot’2022.06.09 – 0525 – Finding The ‘Sweet Spot’Having said that, a greater mic-to-mouth distance will give your voice a lighter pitch, with more treble, a thinness to the sound and more of the room acoustics,...
- 2022 / 6 / 70524 – How To Get The ‘Barry White’ Effect2022.06.08 – 0524 – How To Get The ‘Barry White’ Effect VOICE BOXMoving the mic slightly towards or away from you raises other issues to do with what’s called The Proximity effect. This is a...
- 2022 / 6 / 60523 – Why Six Inches Is A Great Length2022.06.07 – 0523 – Why Six Inches Is A Great LengthSo, what is “the right mic-to-mouth position”? It’s usually about 6-8 inches’ distance. Indeed, a good rule of thumb is the literal rule of thumb, the...
- 2022 / 6 / 50522 – Microphone Headsets2022.06.06 – 0522 – Microphone HeadsetsSome radio presenters as well as podcasters and YouTubers use microphone headsets in which the mic is incorporated into the headphones, similar to the ones you might...
- 2022 / 6 / 40521 – Reading Scripts From A Screen2022.06.05 – 0521 – Reading Scripts From A ScreenIn 2020, I started to read radio news bulletins from a screen. Before that, scripts were always printed out and reading them on air often meant that your head...
- 2022 / 6 / 30520 – The Mic-To-Mouth Position2022.06.04 – 0520 – The Mic-To-Mouth PositionMic positionLook back at earlier in the book when we discovered how to sit and breath better. Hopefully you are still using that ‘home balanced-breathing position’...
- 2022 / 6 / 20519 – Mic Stands, Arms and Mounts2022.06.03 – 0519 – Mic Stands, Arms and MountsMic stands, arms and mountsIt makes sense that desk mics are those on a stand, on a desk. And touch of the base of the stand, or a knock of the desk itself, may...
- 2022 / 6 / 10518 – Types Of Mics2022.06.02 – 0518 – Types Of MicsTypes of micsMost microphones in audio studios are on table stands or arms fixed to the desk which are height and/or distance-adjustable. TV presenters use either fixed,...
- 2022 / 5 / 310517 – What You Need To Know About How Mics Affect Your Voice2022.06.01 – 0517 – What You Need To Know About How Mics Affect Your VoiceOK now we are in the studio, the next important piece of kit to make the most of your voice is of course, the mic. Speaking with...
- 2022 / 5 / 300516 – The Clap Test For A Better Voice2022.05.31 – 0516 – The Clap Test For A Better VoiceThe Clap TestAs you are treating your room, check the acoustic changes you have made by carrying out the ‘clap test’: stand in the middle of your space and...
- 2022 / 5 / 290515 – Treating Your Studio: At The Very Least Do This2022.05.30 – 0515 – Treating Your Studio: At The Very Least Do ThisIf sound-treatment is challenging for you to try to at least do three things:· Have a...
- 2022 / 5 / 280514 – The Difference Between Sound ‘Proofing’ and Sound ‘Treating’2022.05.29 – 0514 – The Difference Between Sound ‘Proofing’ and Sound ‘Treating’There is a difference between ‘sound-proofing’ and ‘sound-treating’. The former is stopping the unwanted sound getting in and...
- 2022 / 5 / 270513 – All About Acoustics2022.05.28 – 0513 – All About AcousticsWhat is in your studio space is important for your voice because if your sound bounces around too much, it will appear to be ‘thin’ and ‘hollow’ rather than warm and...
- 2022 / 5 / 260512 – How The Studio Space Affects Your Voice2022.05.27 – 0512 – How The Studio Space Affects Your Voice THE STUDIORecording locationThe studio space will affect your voice because too much other noise may be a distraction, you may be lost in the...
- 2022 / 5 / 250511 – What’s Stuff About The Studio Got To Do With My Voice?2022.05.26 – 0511 – What’s Stuff About The Studio Got To Do With My Voice?What’s all this got to do with my voice?Knowing more about studios, mics and the electronic processing of your voice will simply help...
- 2022 / 5 / 240510 - Your Voice In The Studio2022.05.25 – 0510 – Your Voice In The StudioThis Part of the book is divided into three chapters. First, we will look at the different equipment in the studio. Don’t worry we won’t be getting too technical...
- 2022 / 5 / 230509 – Vocal Variety2022.05.24 – 0509 – Vocal VarietyVarietyIf your inflection patterns are too consistent, then you're sounding bored rather than interesting. Depending on the material, sometimes your delivery should be fast,...
- 2022 / 5 / 220508 – Your Injection Into The Output2022.05.23 – 0508 – Your Injection Into The OutputRapport begins with realising that each ‘consumer’, viewer or listener is an individual who in most cases, has invited you into their home, their world, their...
- 2022 / 5 / 210507 – Personality and Rapport2022.05.22 – 0507 – Personality and RapportPERSONALITY AND RAPPORTGood presenters are ones who establish rapport with their audience. “A lot of people have complimented me for sounding warm and I think...
- 2022 / 5 / 200506 – Stop Thinking What You’re Doing2022.05.21 – 0506 – Stop Thinking What You’re DoingFinally - stop thinking about what you’re doingWhen you read a story or a script for the first time, be mindful as to its immediate meaning. What jumps out...
- 2022 / 5 / 190505 – Rehearsing Conversationality2022.05.20 – 0505 – Rehearsing ConversationalityRehearsing reading out loud makes you a better communicator; it’s a skill that must be learnt and practiced so it sounds as though you are speaking off the top...
- 2022 / 5 / 180504 – A Giveaway That You’re Reading2022.05.19 – 0504 – A Giveaway That You’re Reading A Giveaway That You’re ReadingSometimes it’s obvious you’re reading something because it contains too much information that you couldn’t possibly know...
- 2022 / 5 / 170503 – 20/21 - Suspensions and Stumbles2022.05.18 – 0503 – 20/21 - Suspensions and Stumbles 20 - Suspensions and Stumbles Consider leaving in any genuine slips and trips - so OK, your recording may not be not perfect but it will be more...
- 2022 / 5 / 160502 – 19 - Unlock the Full Stops2022.05.17 – 0502 – 19 - Unlock the Full Stops 19 - Unlock the Full StopsFree the periods and commas to recreate a natural verbal fluidity. Don't pause where the full stop/period is. Instead, ignore them...
- 2022 / 5 / 150501 – 18 - Play With Your Voice2022.05.16 – 0501 – 18 - Play With Your Voice 18 - Play With Your VoiceWhen you are able to, surprise yourself with what you can do with your voice. For example, you don’t just say “no” as a single note...
- 2022 / 5 / 140500 – The Anchor/Reporter Rapport2022.05.15 – 0500 – The Anchor/Reporter RapportStructureYou are a reporter and so you need to be able to succinctly communicate the distinct points that ‘make the story the story’, boiling down the issue or...
- 2022 / 5 / 130499 – Off-The-Page and Off-The-Cuff2022.05.14 – 0499 – Off-The-Page and Off-The-CuffConversationalThe best two-ways are a balance between what’s off-the-page and what’s off-the-cuff. ‘Structured improvisation’ if you like, working with the...
- 2022 / 5 / 120498 – TV Two-ways2022.05.13 – 0498 – TV Two-ways VOICE BOXTV Two-ways A two-way is when a studio presenter on radio or t,v interviews a reporter colleague (usually one who is on location, but maybe in the studio) about...
- 2022 / 5 / 110497 – The Lead In – Working Example2022.05.12 – 0497 – The Lead In – Working ExampleSCRIPT:“I’m fed up. Another Christmas lunch on the way battling with my worn-out kitchen. Stuck drawers, crammed cupboards and simply not enough surfaces. I’m...
- 2022 / 5 / 100496 – React To Act2022.05.11 – 0496 – React To ActOne way to do this is a ‘lead in’ (sometimes called ‘the moment before’ technique): think first (or maybe say aloud) part of the conversation that’d take you into that first...
- 2022 / 5 / 90495 – 17 - Lead in Lines2022.05.10 – 0495 – 17 - Lead in Lines 17 - Lead in LinesBy creating the atmosphere of a conversation, it’s easier to pretend you’re in one.Most commercial copy sets up a problem, and then provides a...
- 2022 / 5 / 80494 – 16 - Rhythm Nation2022.05.09 – 0494 – 16 - Rhythm Nation 16 - Rhythm NationA formal script will sound ‘script perfect’. Each phrase and sentence will come with the regularity of waves on a shore, every one much like the...
- 2022 / 5 / 70493 – Sounding Like An Expert2022.05.08 – 0493 – Sounding Like An ExpertBe conscious of how you sound when you explain something to a friend and try and capture that feeling, mood, zone and so on to sound conversational on air.Here’s an...
- 2022 / 5 / 60492 – 15 - Pausing2022.05.07 – 0492 – 15 - Pausing 15 - PausingPut pauses in different places - as you ‘search’ for the right word or phrase (just don’t make it too often). These may be silent, or vocalised (“errr”). I...
- 2022 / 5 / 50491 – 14 - Gestures2022.05.06 – 0491 – 14 - Gestures 14 - GesturesBig gestures and facial expressions can be ‘over the top’ in a conversational presentation. Reign them back to sound more real and believable. But...
- 2022 / 5 / 40490 – 13 - Conversational Intonation2022.05.05 – 0490 – 13 - Conversational Intonation 13 - Conversational IntonationFlattening out your intonation (but keeping it in the correct place) will, usually make your sound more conversational and...
- 2022 / 5 / 30489 – 12 - Volume and projection2022.05.04 – 0489 – 12 - Volume and projection12 - Volume and projectionA conversational read is low key, subtle, friendly, authentic and so the voice you need is one of sharing not shouting. You need to...
- 2022 / 5 / 20488 – The ‘Word Merge’2022.05.03 – 0488 – The ‘Word Merge’As we saw much earlier, stringing words together can be good because talking too precisely leads to a clunky script. Another issue is, and again we touched on this...
- 2022 / 5 / 10487 – 11 - Contractions and Elisions2022.05.02 – 0487 – 11 - Contractions and Elisions11 - Contractions and ElisionsEnsure you have natural conversational contractions in your delivery: “they’ll”, “couldn’t” and (if appropriate for your...
- 2022 / 4 / 300486 – A ‘Stream Of Consciousness’2022.05.01 – 0486 – A ‘Stream Of Consciousness’Ad-libbing is a way to inject some personality into a read, to humanise it. You’re not supposed to be just releasing the words, you are meant to be like the...
- 2022 / 4 / 290485 – 10 - Ad-libs2022.04.30 – 0485 – 10 - Ad-libs10 - Ad-libsAd-lib around, swapping out words as you come across themIt’s acting, isn’t it? And OK, it’s a bit odd to script sentences and then ignore the structure. And so too...
- 2022 / 4 / 280484 – Articulation In Conversationality2022.04.29 – 0484 – Articulation In Conversationality YOUR ARTICULATION Of course, people have to understand what it is you are saying, and as we saw before, the level of articulation has to be...
- 2022 / 4 / 270483 – Eliminate Banality and Formality2022.04.28 – 0483 – Eliminate Banality and FormalityObviously, the kind of words you use will differ depending on your audience – another reason why you should have your target demographic front of mind. If...
- 2022 / 4 / 260482 – 9 - The Form Of The Words2022.04.27 – 0482 – 9 - The Form Of The Words THE SCRIPTSpoken language doesn’t need grammar to give a meaning to the sequence of words. The grammar of the written word evolved to replace the...
- 2022 / 4 / 250481 – Conversation Questions2022.04.26 – 0481 – Conversation QuestionsTo summarise, ask yourself· Who is this information important to?· How...
- 2022 / 4 / 240480 – Focus On The Message More Than Your Voice2022.04.25 – 0480 – Focus On The Message More Than Your VoiceYou may find it useful to go further and question:· What exactly is this product or service I’m...
- 2022 / 4 / 230479 – Pitching Your Presentation2022.04.24 – 0479 – Pitching Your Presentation Changing the words, the style, the pace and so on helps the message become more effective. Having a picture in your mind of the ‘target listener’ and their...
- 2022 / 4 / 220478 – The Emotion Duplication2022.04.23 – 0478 – The Emotion DuplicationYou need to be able to identify the different parts of the script that instil those emotions in you, so you are better able to replicate them in your voice and so...
- 2022 / 4 / 210477 - 8 – Know What The Desired Response Is Of That Audience2022.04.22 – 0477 - 8 – Know What The Desired Response Is Of That Audience 8 – Know What The Desired Response Is Of That Audience[1]So, you have the message and the person it’s being delivered to, but...
- 2022 / 4 / 200476 - 7 – Imagine Where That Audience Is Listening / What They Are Doing2022.04.21 – 0476 - 7 – Imagine Where That Audience Is Listening / What They Are Doing 7 – Imagine Where That Audience Is Listening / What They Are DoingSo now you know the kind of person the story or...
- 2022 / 4 / 190475 – The Geller Principle2022.04.20 – 0475 – The Geller Principle Radio presentation trainer Valerie Geller[1] says “there are no boring stories, only boring storytellers” and she’s right: it’s how you tell the story the images...
- 2022 / 4 / 180474 – The Information Equation2022.04.19 – 0474 – The Information Equation Information + Presentation = Communication Successful communication is largely a matter of presentation, and that depends on how it’s written and how it’s...
- 2022 / 4 / 170473 - The Listener's B-S Detector2022.04.18 – 0473 - The Listener's B-S Detector If you do not care, don’t know the audience, or do not understand the content - and let it show - the listener is very likely not to bother either. Their...
- 2022 / 4 / 160472 - 6 – Understand The Story Or The Message2022.04.17 – 0472 - 6 – Understand The Story Or The Message 6 – Understand The Story Or The MessageOnce you know who you are talking to you need to understand the message that you are giving them....
- 2022 / 4 / 150471 - 5 – Know Who *You* Are2022.04.16 – 0471 - 5 – Know Who *You* Are 5 – Know Who You AreYou need to know your role in this script-reading, what perspective you are speaking from, what gives you the ‘right’ to pass on this...
- 2022 / 4 / 140470 – NPR Advice2022.04.15 – 0470 – NPR Advice “So many of us listen to audio stories through earbuds. It becomes really intimate. One person standing really close and telling a story right to someone's ear. And this is...
- 2022 / 4 / 130469 - Keep yourself single2022.04.14 – 0469 - Keep yourself single Keep yourself singleIt will be easier to talk conversationally, as though to one person, if your script reflects that hypothesis. Radio people...
- 2022 / 4 / 120468 – Intimate Audio2022.04.13 – 0468 – Intimate Audio To sound credibly intimate, and less like ‘an announcer’, you need to convince yourself that you are talking to one single person. That way each listener will fantasise...
- 2022 / 4 / 110467 – Talk To Teddy2022.04.12 – 0467 – Talk To TeddyWhen I’m podcasting I… talk and feel like I am having a conversation with somebody, as do other people.When I started off I actually got my old teddy bear out and I sat him in...
- 2022 / 4 / 100466 – Where Are They Listening2022.04.11 – 0466 – Where Are They Listening The next step is, in your mind’s eye, place ‘your listener’ in an appropriate location to hear your message. It’s what we do naturally when we call someone...
- 2022 / 4 / 90465 – Your Audience Reminder2022.04.10 – 0465 – Your Audience Reminder That person should be:· A specific person· A real person – so not...
- 2022 / 4 / 80464 – 4 – Talk To Them One To One2022.04.09 – 0464 – 4 – Talk To Them One To One 4 – Talk To Them One To OnePart of feeling comfortable is also being able to continually monitor the audience, their face, body language and voice for...
- 2022 / 4 / 70463 – 3 - Know Who Your Audience Is2022.04.08 – 0463 – 3 - Know Who Your Audience Is 3 - Know Who Your Audience IsWhether it’s a news bulletin for a radio station, a YouTube video or a voice over, you need to know who you are...
- 2022 / 4 / 60462 - 2 - Be Comfortable2022.04.07 – 0462 - 2 - Be Comfortable 2 - Be Comfortable You will sound more natural, conversational and as though talking to a friend, if you are feeling confident and comfortable, warm and relaxed....
- 2022 / 4 / 50461 – 1 - Study Natural Conversations In The Wild2022.04.06 – 0461 – 1 - Study Natural Conversations In The Wild1 - Study Natural Conversations In The WildTo sound conversational, you need to give the impression that you are talking without a script. If the...
- 2022 / 4 / 40460 – The Keys To Conversationality2022.04.05 – 0460 – The Keys To ConversationalityTHE KEYS TO CONVERSATIONALITY or ‘Tips To Make It Sound Like You’re Making It Up’or ‘ABCDE: A Better Conversational Delivery for Engagement’. Hosted on...
- 2022 / 4 / 30459 – Does A Conversational Read Lessen Your Authority?2022.04.04 – 0459 – Does A Conversational Read Lessen Your Authority? VOICE BOXThe best reads are a combination of intonation, volume, speed, pause, pitch – all slightly dialled up or down depending on...
- 2022 / 4 / 20458 – BBC Presentation Advice2022.04.03 – 0458 – BBC Presentation Advice ‘Be yourself. Keep your style natural, conversational, lively and engaging. Try to help the listener feel they’re part of the discussion. Address the listener...
- 2022 / 4 / 10457 – Don’t Be A Micro-Phoney2022.04.02 – 0457 – Don’t Be A Micro-Phoney Radio presenters talk to millions of listeners, one at a time and yet the best ones still sound natural. But some new (and young) presenters hide behind an...
- 2022 / 3 / 310456 – The ‘Level 1’ Read2022.04.01 – 0456 – The ‘Level 1’ Read Level 1Style: A very loose style, more ‘street speak’ perhaps. The style may be almost ‘throwaway’. Further contractions in the script, and the ‘slurring’ of words...
- 2022 / 3 / 300455 – The ‘Level 2’ Read2022.03.31 – 0455 – The ‘Level 2’ Read Level 2 - ConversationalStyle: More ‘articulate’ than 1 (below), but not too much more. It’s still a conversational ‘speak’, casual but more ‘chilled’ than...
- 2022 / 3 / 290454 – The ‘Level 3’ Read2022.03.30 – 0454 – The ‘Level 3’ Read Level 3Style: The style relaxes further, with a bit more character in the voice. In some situations, this may mean less projection, less pace, with a touch of...
- 2022 / 3 / 280453 – The ‘Level 4’ Read2022.03.29 – 0453 – The ‘Level 4’ Read Level 4Style: Serious, focused and formal; less ‘heavy’ and ‘polished’ than Level 5, and certainly warmer, but still reasonable slow, dry and articulate. At this...
- 2022 / 3 / 270452 – The ‘Level 5’ Read2022.03.28 – 0452 – The ‘Level 5’ Read Level 5 Style: Clear and paced diction, shorter sentences (or even ‘statements’), and quite directive. There’s a still a heightened performance, it’s energised,...
- 2022 / 3 / 270451 – “Can You Dial It Down A Bit?”2022.03.27 – 0451 – “Can You Dial It Down A Bit?” And in doing so, if a director says “Hmm, you may wanna dial that down a bit”, you’ll be more aware of what it is that you need to dial down on, to give...
- 2022 / 3 / 260450 – Considerations For Other Reading Styles2022.03.26 – 0450 – Considerations For Other Reading Styles There are of course many styles in between these two extremes of presentation, all with differing levels of some of those variables and more....
- 2022 / 3 / 250449 – The Conversational Style of Reading2022.03.25 – 0449 – The Conversational Style of Reading The Conversational StyleNow the desired sound is someone who is more authentic, relatable, believable and conversational. Consumers don’t want to...
- 2022 / 3 / 240448 – The Announcer Style of Reading2022.03.24 – 0448 – The Announcer Style of ReadingREADING STYLESThe Announcer StyleThe ‘announcer style’ was typically an American format in the 1980s and 90s, scripts read with aggression, projection and...
- 2022 / 3 / 230447 – Conversational Contradictions2022.03.23 – 0447 – Conversational ContradictionsSo, let’s take what we have learnt so far to the next level. Some of what follows will enforce what we have looked at before, but other parts may seem a bit...
- 2022 / 3 / 220446 – Sounding Conversational - Introduction2022.03.22 – 0446 – Sounding Conversational - Introduction Kids rarely say “can you read out loud to me?” they say “can you tell me a story…?” And that’s what this section is all about: sounding natural...
- 2022 / 3 / 210445 – Expression Conclusion2022.03.21 – 0445 – Expression ConclusionGestures will enhance your vocal presentation.They help you focus on the person you’re communicating with and the sense of the story, to concentrate on truly...
- 2022 / 3 / 200444 – Choosing The Right Gesture2022.03.20 – 0444 – Choosing The Right GestureIf you are nervous (and there’s more on overcoming stress, later), it may be that you suffer from ‘expression suppression’: the life drains from your presentation...
- 2022 / 3 / 190443 – The Nodding Dog Syndrome2022.03.19 – 0443 – The Nodding Dog SyndromeSome people get into the habit of ‘self-conducting’ while they are talking, especially when reading from a script. They nod along to the rhythm of the words, or...
- 2022 / 3 / 180442 – Expression Suppression2022.03.18 – 0442 – Expression SuppressionSometimes you may need to sit on your hands and suppress the pressure to gesture. For example, if a newsreader, if it’s a sensitive or emotional story you may benefit...
- 2022 / 3 / 170441 – Signature Gestures2022.03.17 – 0441 – Signature Gestures What to Remember When You Gesture Mind your mannerismsWhen does your ‘signature gesture’ cross from being a trademark (such as, for UK listeners, the Anne...
- 2022 / 3 / 160440 – Thaw Your Frozen Face2022.03.16 – 0440 – Thaw Your Frozen Face The most communicative voices have active facial language. The voice from a poker face – one that looks like a ventriloquist’s dummy, with no life in the eyes,...
- 2022 / 3 / 150439 – More Advantages of Gestures2022.03.15 – 0439 – More Advantages of Gestures More advantages of gesturesGestures affect your energy, help lower your tension and raise your resonanceOn video people will see your energy – it’s...
- 2022 / 3 / 140438 – Gestures In Voice Acting2022.03.14 – 0438 – Gestures In Voice ActingVoice-over is acting, it’s not just about ‘reading out loud’. Getting your whole body involved will help you develop your character: a ‘little old lady’ voice...
- 2022 / 3 / 130437 – Eye Contact For Video And Stage Performers2022.03.13 – 0437 – Eye Contact For Video And Stage PerformersEye contact for video and stage performersOK this isn’t about the voice per se but let’s just spend a short time looking at this closely...
- 2022 / 3 / 120436 – Gestures For TV and Video Presentations2022.03.12 – 0436 – Gestures For TV and Video PresentationsExpressions on Televisions - Gestures on TV and VideoTV video work can be a bit different. With audio production (either radio or voice over work)...
- 2022 / 3 / 110435 – ‘Verbal’ Gestures2022.03.11 – 0435 – ‘Verbal’ GesturesVerbal gestures – ones which enhance what you are saying or replace what you’re thinking, maybe:· Moving hands in front of...
- 2022 / 3 / 100434 – ‘Leading’ and ‘Ideas’ Gestures2022.03.10 – 0434 – ‘Leading’ and ‘Ideas’ GesturesDifferent types of gesturesWhen you are speaking with an audience face to face you employ any of these types of gestures to help you influence them. So even...
- 2022 / 3 / 90433 – Adopting Authentic Gestures2022.03.09 – 0433 – Adopting Authentic Gestures So, gestures along with the words we choose and the way we deliver those words (for example a timid or a robust voice) helps in communication – the message...
- 2022 / 3 / 80432 – Your Lesson In Physical Expression For Better Verbal Connection.2022.03.08 – 0432 – Your Lesson In Physical Expression For Better Verbal Connection. Now this is where we start your lesson in physical expression for better conversation and connection. Of course,...
- 2022 / 3 / 70431 – Face-To-Face Gestures When Talking Face-To-Mic2022.03.07 – 0431 – Face-To-Face Gestures When Talking Face-To-Mic The ‘father of modern public speaking’ Dale Carnegie, wrote, “A person under the influence of his feelings projects the real self,...
- 2022 / 3 / 60430 – ‘Using Your Hands To Help Your Voice’2022.03.06 – 0430 – ‘Using Your Hands To Help Your Voice’Hold on, this is supposed to be all about talking, with your mouth, isn’t it? Well yes and no. Talking also involves the rest of your body....
- 2022 / 3 / 50429 – What is A ‘Natural’ and ‘Conversational’ Sound?2022.03.05 – 0429 – What is A ‘Natural’ and ‘Conversational’ Sound?Now let’s enter a new section in the [1]‘voyage of the voice’, with more communication skills.So far we’ve looked at how the voice is...
- 2022 / 3 / 40428 – The Speed Of The Read – A Summary2022.03.04 – 0428 – The Speed Of The Read – A SummaryAnd that’s the challenge: to maintain clarity and inflection throughout the script.“Sometimes the most powerful sound in stories is a lack of sound, or a...
- 2022 / 3 / 30427 – Peter’s PT For Talking To Time2022.03.03 – 0427 – Peter’s PT For Talking To Time Take some copy which has a required duration indicated on it, and read it aloud like you might in a demo, and with a stopwatch to hand.How many words...
- 2022 / 3 / 20426 – Peter’s PT For The Fast Talker2022.03.02 – 0426 – Peter’s PT For The Fast Talker VOCAL YOGA – PETER’S PT for the fast-talkerHere’s one of those infamous ‘Terms and Conditions’ statements you often hear at the end of ads. Can you...
- 2022 / 3 / 10425 – Pod-Fasting2022.03.01 – 0425 – Pod-FastingPOD-FASTINGThis is when listeners play back your podcast really fast, perhaps 1.5 or even twice the originally recorded speed (often referred to as “2-ex” speed). They may be...
- 2022 / 2 / 280424 – The Pregnant Pause2022.02.28 – 0424 – The Pregnant Pause Pregnant pauseThis is a pause that is full of meaning (‘pregnant’ means ‘full’) – it builds suspension and signifies significance.“And Prime Mionsiter, did you ever...
- 2022 / 2 / 270423 – The Difference Between A Pause And ‘Dead Air’2022.02.27 – 0423 – The Difference Between A Pause And ‘Dead Air’A Pause and Dead Air – the differenceA pause is purposeful production. It’s been included for a reason, for effect, for punctuation and a dozen...
- 2022 / 2 / 260422 – Pausing Practicalities2022.02.26 – 0422 – Pausing Practicalities Pausing practicalitiesIf recording a voice over often it doesn’t matter if you pause for several seconds in the middle of a script. A producer or director will...
- 2022 / 2 / 250421 – Too Many Pauses2022.02.25 – 0421 – Too Many Pauses Too many pausesEven though it’s important that each word be properly pronounced, overly precise diction with a micro-pause after each word, can sound very...
- 2022 / 2 / 240420 – Silence In An On-Air Studio2022.02.24 – 0420 – Silence In An On-Air StudioVOICE BOXSilence in an on-air studio If an audio signal is not sent to a radio station transmitter for a set period of time, an emergency ‘tape’ kicks...
- 2022 / 2 / 230419 – The Problem With Pauses2022.02.23 – 0419 – The Problem With Pauses PROBLEMS WITH PAUSESIn commercial voiceovers, the pauses are often edited out to leave a ‘word-wall of sound’. I was once asked to record a daily podcast for...
- 2022 / 2 / 220418 – Pausing In Podcast Presenter Teams2022.02.22 – 0418 – Pausing In Podcast Presenter Teams VOICE BOXPausing in teamworkA brief look at the pause when you have several presenters on your radio show or podcast. When you have one or more...
- 2022 / 2 / 210417 – The Janice Pause2022.02.21 – 0417 – The Janice Pause The ‘Janice pause’The exaggerated pause indicating stunned surprise, or comedic drama: a trend from ‘Friends’:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSmp1ZSvelY Having...
- 2022 / 2 / 200416 – Silence In Different Cultures2022.02.20 – 0416 – Silence In Different CulturesSilence for different cultures In general, eastern cultures value silence more than word-rich western ones. In their book ‘Communication between...
- 2022 / 2 / 190415 – Silence Shows You’re Listening2022.02.19 – 0415 – Silence Shows You’re Listening Silence shows you’re listening In an interview, your guest has just made a significant or poignant remark, and to show respect and empathy – pause....
- 2022 / 2 / 180414 – Silence Skills In Interviewing2022.02.18 – 0414 – Silence Skills In Interviewing Silence in interviewingMaybe you have a guest on your radio show or podcast, consider using pausing the way it’s used by counsellors, coppers and...
- 2022 / 2 / 170413 – Scanning Scripts And Audiences2022.02.17 – 0413 – Scanning Scripts And AudiencesTo rescan the scriptA pause gives a moment for the reader to look ahead in their script or notes to refamiliarize themselves with what comes next: the...
- 2022 / 2 / 160412 – A Beat For A Breath2022.02.16 – 0412 – A Beat For A Breath A beat for a breathFor the reader, pauses create a ‘breath-space’ for you to take in some air at an appropriate place, and not somewhere that’d interrupt the flow...
- 2022 / 2 / 150411 – Using Silence as a Substitute2022.02.15 – 0411 – Using Silence as a SubstituteUsing silence as a substitute for filler words If you pause rather than add in a vocal bridge – “err”, “ahh”, “y’know”, “so” – then it will make you sound more...
- 2022 / 2 / 140410 – A Pause For Thought2022.02.14 – 0410 – A Pause For Thought A pause for thoughtIn conversation we hesitate, search for the right word or phrase, perhaps weigh what we want to say with the context and the audience. To...
- 2022 / 2 / 130409 – Comic Timing2022.02.13 – 0409 – Comic TimingComic timingThere’s great importance of the pause before a punchline. It’s the ‘gap gap’ between the stress of the set up and the relief of the reward – laughter. The...
- 2022 / 2 / 120408 – Pauses In A Visual Description2022.02.12 – 0408 – Pauses In A Visual Description Pauses in a visual descriptionThat is, when you’re describing a person, a room or any environment or object, the use of the beat allows the listener to...
- 2022 / 2 / 110407 – Pauses as an Indication of Quality2022.02.11 – 0407 – Pauses as an Indication of QualityPauses as an indication of qualityIn commercial reads, less copy, fewer words, slower speed and time taken, is often the algorithm to indicate...
- 2022 / 2 / 100406 – Using Pauses After Rhetorical Questions2022.02.10 – 0406 – Using Pauses After Rhetorical QuestionsCreating silence in which the listener can answer your questionAsk the audience a rhetorical question and then pause at the end of it so they can...
- 2022 / 2 / 90405 – Pauses As The Fulcrum In A Story’s ‘See-Saw’2022.02.09 – 0405 – Pauses As The Fulcrum In A Story’s ‘See-Saw’ The pause as a see-saw fulcrum A pause can help explain the balance of two parts of the story – while this is happening over there, this...
- 2022 / 2 / 80404 – Pauses As Intonational Devices In Quotes and Sub-Clauses2022.02.08 – 0404 – Pauses As Intonational Devices In Quotes and Sub-Clauses They are used as intonational devices in quotes, brackets/parenthesis and sub-clausesAs we saw previously when we talked about...
- 2022 / 2 / 70403 – A Pause Helps You Say What You Can’t Actually Say2022.02.07 – 0403 – A Pause Helps You Say What You Can’t Actually Say A pause helps you say what you can’t actually sayA pause might be inviting the audience to ‘read between the lines’ pointing them to...
- 2022 / 2 / 60402 – Silence to Let Sound Tell the Story2022.02.06 – 0402 – Silence to Let Sound Tell the Story Silence to let sound tells the storyRadio consultant Tracy Johnson tells the story[1] of former Dodgers baseball play-by-play ‘personality...
- 2022 / 2 / 50401 – Pauses To Engage Attention After Significant Content2022.02.05 – 0401 – Pauses To Engage Attention After Significant Content After significant content A pause after a phrase or story gives listeners time to reflect on what they’ve just heard, to allow it...
- 2022 / 2 / 40400 – Pauses To Engage Attention Before Significant Content2022.02.04 – 0400 – Pauses To Engage Attention Before Significant Content To engage attention before significant content A brief moment of silence adds suspense, adds anticipation and indicates...
- 2022 / 2 / 30399 – Pauses As Script Divisions2022.02.03 – 0399 – Pauses As Script Divisions As script divisions to aid understandingPauses divide a script into ‘sense groups’ for the ‘heard word’, the same way that a comma or full stop/period does...
- 2022 / 2 / 20398 – The Importance Of Pauses In Lists2022.02.02 – 0398 – The Importance Of Pauses In Lists Sometimes you have a list of two or three items in a sentence: So, on an airline when the cabin crew offer you a meal (we used a similar example...
- 2022 / 2 / 10397 – My Manager’s A Jerk…2022.02.01 – 0397 – My Manager’s A Jerk…“What’s that on the road ahead?”“What’s that on the road, a head?” A pause can make all the difference between seeing traffic problems, and the scene of a...
- 2022 / 1 / 310396 – Pauses As A Signpost To Meaning2022.01.31 – 0396 – Pauses As A Signpost To MeaningAs well as the above reasons, you pause to help signpost the sense of the sentence. You can pause between setting up a statement and presenting...
- 2022 / 1 / 300395 – When We Pause2022.01.30 – 0395 – When We PauseWhen we use a pauseNot all pauses are created equal. We use them to help both the reader and the listener in many different ways.Pauses – together with intonation - aid...
- 2022 / 1 / 290394 – Don’t Fear The Silence2022.01.29 – 0394 – Don’t Fear The Silence “Pauses strengthen the voice. They also render thoughts more clear-cut by separating them.”Rhetorica ad Herennium - the oldest surviving Latin book...
- 2022 / 1 / 280393 – Pauses: An Introduction2022.01.28 – 0393 – Pauses: An Introduction PAUSESThe huge majority of this book is about noise and sound. From how words are written to how they are uttered … their volume, intensity, pitch and...
- 2022 / 1 / 270392 - How Fast We Can Speak… and Listen2022.01.27 – 0392 - How Fast Can We Speak… and Listen?How Fast Can We Speak?“In just 600 milliseconds, the human brain can think of a word, apply the rules of grammar to it and send it to the mouth to...
- 2022 / 1 / 270392 - How Fast Can We Speak… and Listen?2022.01.27 – 0392 - How Fast Can We Speak… and Listen?How Fast Can We Speak?“In just 600 milliseconds, the human brain can think of a word, apply the rules of grammar to it and send it to the mouth to...
- 2022 / 1 / 260391 - Backtiming 22022.01.26 – 0391 - Backtiming 2 Of course, the duration of a song or a report is known in advance, but there are variables such as live interviews (especially with non-professional guests who may talk...
- 2022 / 1 / 250390 - Backtiming 1Backtiming Some stations or programmes hand back to a network (possibly automatically) at a certain time. As this has to be ‘to the second’ there may be silence (‘dead air’) if a presenter ends too early, or...
- 2022 / 1 / 240389 - How To Talk To Time2022.01.24 – S2024 – 0389 - How To Talk To TimeA sense of timing can be developed in the same way as an experienced driver can tell the speed of a car as it passes, or while they’re in it, and with experience...
- 2022 / 1 / 230388 - Talking To Time2022.01.23 – S2023 – 0388 - Talking To TimeOne of the skills of a broadcaster is being able to talk to just the required length of time to ‘hit a junction’ (for example, a news bulletin or commercial break),...
- 2022 / 1 / 220387 - Rehearsing Your Read-Speed2022.01.22 – S2022 – 0387 - Rehearsing Your Read-SpeedRehearsing Your Read-SpeedEver seen the rehearsal rooms from the tv shows “Strictly Come Dancing” or “Dancing With The Stars”? You will have seen, or...
- 2022 / 1 / 210386 - Slow-Speed Speed Traps2022.01.21 – S2021 – 0386 - Slow-Speed Speed Traps· By itself, reading slowly does not make you sound more authoritative or serious. You still have to understand...
- 2022 / 1 / 200385 - Slowing Down To Highlight Importance2022.01.20 – S2020 – 0385 - Slowing Down To Highlight Importance Saying a single word or phrase slower, slightly elongating its pronunciation, highlights it within a sentence and so can be used as part...
- 2022 / 1 / 190384 -The Message Given By ‘Slowing Your Talking’2022.01.19 – S2019 – 0384 -The Message Given By ‘Slowing Your Talking’· Slower speed may add tension, or suspense before a surprise, (and you can use the pause –...
- 2022 / 1 / 180383 - The Message Given By ‘Slowing Your Talking’2022.01.18 – S2018 – 0383 - The Message Given By ‘Slowing Your Talking’· Slower speakers can be seen as ‘slow-witted’, overly-thoughtful and lacking in...
- 2022 / 1 / 170382 - EXTREMES OF SPEED - The Slower Read2022.01.17 – S2017 – 0382 - EXTREMES OF SPEED - The Slower ReadEXTREMES OF SPEED - The Slower Read“Slow down, you move too fast, You got to make the morning last”The 59th Street Bridge Song (“Feelin’...
- 2022 / 1 / 160381 - The Speed of T&Cs2022.01.16 – S2016 – 0381 - The Speed of T&CsThese ‘disclaimer statements’ are often heard at the end of an ad … so, after the enticing offer comes the ‘boring bit’ and information on the limitations.Let’s be...
- 2022 / 1 / 150380 - Fast Talking Speed Traps 22022.01.15 – S2015 – 0380 - Fast Talking Speed Traps 2· A fast read can lead to reduction in intonation, leading to a machine-gun fire style as you rush to...
- 2022 / 1 / 140379 - Fast Talking Speed Traps2022.01.14 – S2014 – 0379 - Fast Talking Speed TrapsSome people speak fast naturally and can still be understandable and engaging. But:· If you read a script too...
- 2022 / 1 / 130378 - The Message Given By Talking Fast2022.01.13 – S2013 – 0378 - The Message Given By Talking Fast The Message Given By Talking Fast· Fast talkers are often seen as confident and clever. It’s...
- 2022 / 1 / 120377 - Being Chased By The Music2022.01.12 – S2012 – 0377 - Being Chased By The Music · You are being ‘chased by the music’ Many presenters like to talk with music running underneath...
- 2022 / 1 / 110376 - The Script’s Too Long Or The Time’s Too Short2022.01.11 – S2011 – 0376 - The Script’s Too Long Or The Time’s Too ShortIn a commercial voice-over situation, the duration of the piece is of the essence. If the spot has to be a certain length (to fit with...
- 2022 / 1 / 100375 - Why You May Talk Fast2022.01.10 – S2010 – 0375 - Why You May Talk Fast· Fast-talking may be from how you were brought up. Perhaps you had several siblings and in a busy home you had...
- 2022 / 1 / 90374 - Extremes Of Speed: The Faster Read2022.01.09 – S2009 – 0374 - Extremes Of Speed: The Faster Read EXTREMES OF SPEED - The Faster ReadUsually, your listeners won’t have a second chance to process what it is that you have said. There’s no...
- 2022 / 1 / 80373 - Changing speed within a story2022.01.08 – S2008 – 0373 - Changing speed within a storyChanging speed within a storyOn occasion you may change the speed within a paragraph or a story: starting slowly because of the content which is new,...
- 2022 / 1 / 70372 - When You May Change Your Reading Rate2022.01.07 – S2007 – 0372 - When You May Change Your Reading RateFor example, a weather script on a sunny summer’s day may be quite rushed – listeners are expecting it to be blue sky and high temperatures....
- 2022 / 1 / 60371 - Changing Your Reading Rate2022.01.06 – S2006 – 0371 - Changing Your Reading RateChanging Your Reading RateIf you speak too slowly an audience may lose interest; if you speak too quickly, they may lose the thread of what you are...
- 2022 / 1 / 50370 - The Average Read Rate2022.01.05 – S2005 – 0370 - The Average Read RateThe Average Reading RateThis is one which is comfortable for the reader, clear to the listener, and which suits the style of the content. For example, on a...
- 2022 / 1 / 40369 - Your Natural ‘Read Rate’2022.01.04 – S2004 – 0369 - Your Natural ‘Read Rate’YOUR NATURAL READ-RATEThere is no ‘correct’ speed to read. It is likely to be determined by:· the amount you...
- 2022 / 1 / 30368 – The Speed of the Read2022.01.03 – S2003 - 0368 – The Speed of the ReadWith voice skills I often think of one of the last scenes of the classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” when Toto pulls away the curtain to show the Wizard pulling...
- 2022 / 1 / 20367 - The Speed of the Read - Introduction2022.01.02 - S2/002 - The Speed of the Read - IntroductionA new year and a new topic to get your teeth in to.Today, an overview of the skills in reading fast and slow, and everything in between - including...
- 2022 / 1 / 10366 – A Look Ahead To Season 22022.01.01 – S2001 – A Look Ahead To Season 2Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021, 2022 Peter StewartThrough these around-5-minute episodes, you can build your confidence and competence with advice...
- 2021 / 12 / 310365 - The End of Season OneIn which I look back at the voice topics covered in Season 1 of the unique, daily podcast series.Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021 Peter StewartThrough these around-5-minute episodes, you can...
- 2021 / 12 / 300364 - Bonus Guest Episode - Live AnnouncingThe last of three bonus episodes in which I’m joined by a fellow broadcaster and voice over artist ANTHONY DAVIS with his own insight and perspective on voice and presentation skills. Anthony is a...
- 2021 / 12 / 290363 - Bonus Guest Epsiode - Voice Overs and AccentsOver three bonus episodes I’m joined by a fellow broadcaster and voice over artist ANTHONY DAVIS with his own insight and perspective on voice and presentation skills. Anthony is a British broadcaster,...
- 2021 / 12 / 280362 - Bonus Guest Episode - Mics and The Fonzie FactorOver the next three bonus episodes I’m joined by a fellow broadcaster and voice over artist ANTHONY DAVIS with his own insight and perspective on voice and presentation skills. Anthony is a British...
- 2021 / 12 / 270361 – Projection Through A Mask2021.12.27 – 0361 – Projection Through A Mask As I write this, the world is still mid-pandemic, and even though the use of masks has declined somewhat it’s a chance to write some notes on what we have learnt...
- 2021 / 12 / 260360 – Volume and Your Vocal Strength2021.12.26 – 0360 – Volume and Your Vocal Strength A loud voice, when it is necessary, comes from having a good foundation in ‘vocal strength’, and as we saw earlier, the foundations of that come from things...
- 2021 / 12 / 250359 – Volume, Mics and Processing2021.12.25 – 0359 – Volume, Mics and ProcessingStudio work is different from stage work: as we have already discussed you usually don’t need to be projecting your voice or raising it beyond the level of a...
- 2021 / 12 / 240358 – Volume In Character2021.12.24 – 0358 – Volume In CharacterA certain volume or projection may be part of a character you play – perhaps in an animation, video game, commercial, voiceover or book reading. You need to be able to...
- 2021 / 12 / 230357 – Volume Variety2021.12.23 – 0357 – Volume VarietyOne of the most important tools to use to engage and persuade is a variety of voice volume - there is a huge power in dropping or raising your voice.To read every story with...
- 2021 / 12 / 220356 – Getting A Louder Voice2021.12.22 – 0356 – Getting A Louder Voice This obviously depends on which of the above issues (or others) is the cause but here are a few pointers:For (suspected) physical reasons – consult your family...
- 2021 / 12 / 210355 – Reasons Why Some People Talk More Softly2021.12.21 – 0355 – Reasons Why Some People Talk More SoftlyThere may be physical, psychological and social reasons someone speaks softly.Physical:· Weakness in...
- 2021 / 12 / 200354 - Voice Extremes: The Softer Voice2021.12.20 – 0354 - Voice Extremes: The Softer VoiceThe softer you sing, the louder you're heardDonovan, musician, ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine (9th November 1967) We saw some elements about a quieter voice...
- 2021 / 12 / 190353 – Screaming And Shouting – Part 22021.12.19 – 0353 – Screaming And Shouting – Part 2 Remember that screaming and shouting isn’t necessarily about sheer volume. A similar affect may be achieved perhaps by a shaking voice and a whimper,...
- 2021 / 12 / 180352 – Screaming And Shouting – Part 12021.12.18 – 0352 – Screaming And Shouting – Part 1Screaming and shoutingIt may be that a script, say in an animation, calls for you to scream – the epitome of projection. This can potentially cause damage to...
- 2021 / 12 / 170351 – Sounds That Drown2021.12.17 – 0351 – Sounds That DrownWhat loudness means‘Authority’ does not mean talking loud. ‘Authority’ comes, as we have seen before, from understanding the story and having the confidence to explain its...
- 2021 / 12 / 160350 – Voice Extremes: The Louder Voice2021.12.16 – 0350 – Voice Extremes: The Louder VoiceFrom a whisper to a booming voice of a ‘hurry, hurry, buy now, offer ends on Saturday’ commercial, your volume speaks volumes about the message and the...
- 2021 / 12 / 150349 – Projection And The Audience2021.12.15 – 0349 – Projection And The AudienceThe audienceYour volume will alter depending on how many people are listening, where they are and what they are doing. We have seen some of this already when we...
- 2021 / 12 / 140348 – Projection And The Message2021.12.14 – 0348 – Projection And The MessageThe messageLowering your volume has a double effect: it not only makes your voice softer and quieter, but it also becomes more resonant. As we saw earlier, this...
- 2021 / 12 / 130347 – Projection And The Location2021.12.13 – 0347 – Projection And The LocationThe locationWe have already seen how we usually speak louder outside than in, and, obviously speak louder when there are other noises to compete against. But...
- 2021 / 12 / 120346 – Projection And Character2021.12.12 – 0346 – Projection And CharacterVolume is a key part of presentation from a script, whether in voice overs, voice acting, reading or presenting, and that volume needs to be appropriate for...
- 2021 / 12 / 110345 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Where They Are2021.12.11 – 0345 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Where They Are Summon up an image of where that person will be when they are watching you on tv or listening to you on the radio, will also alter how you...
- 2021 / 12 / 100344 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Who They Are2021.12.10 – 0344 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Who They Are Imagining Your Hidden AudienceWho are they?One way to achieve an appropriate ‘point of vocus’ for your projection is by putting a photo of...
- 2021 / 12 / 90343 – The Point of Vocus2021.12.09 – 0343 – The Point of VocusThe Point of VocusPut simply, the microphone is usually positioned in our ‘inmate’ zone 6-8 inches from our mouth. If it was a human ear rather than a mic that we were...
- 2021 / 12 / 80342 – Vocal Proxemics – Part 22021.12.08 – 0342 – Vocal Proxemics – Part 2So, you have a different voice when you are with your lover in the ‘Intimate Zone’ (a very soft level that you might use to tell a secret to a friend or whisper...
- 2021 / 12 / 70341 – Vocal Proxemics2021.12.07 – 0341 – Vocal ProxemicsVocal ProxemicsAssociated with ‘Human Spacing’ are our vocal proxemics: the kind of voice we use in each Zone. The further away someone is, the louder and less personal your...
- 2021 / 12 / 60340 – Your 12-Inch Voice2021.12.06 – 0340 – Your 12-Inch VoiceSometimes people refer to a “12-inch voice”. But what is that? It is the volume required for you to be heard only up to a 12-inch radius around...
- 2021 / 12 / 50339 – Human Spacing And Its Part In Projection Theory2021.12.05 – 0339 – Human Spacing And Its Part In Projection TheoryHuman SpacingWhat the barbecue has illustrated is Human Spacing, the ideas of anthropologist Edward T. Hall[1] from which we understand the...
- 2021 / 12 / 40338 – The Anniversary Party Analysis2021.12.04 – 0338 – The Anniversary Party Analysis VOCAL PROXEMICS AND THE FOUR VARIETIES OF VOCAL VOLUMEYour natural volumeWe are not ‘prehistorically programmed’ to speak to people that we can’t see, let...
- 2021 / 12 / 30337 – Projection Advice to BBC Presenters2021.12.03 – 0337 – Projection Advice to BBC Presenters On 2nd January 1928, 5XX (the forerunner of the BBC) broadcast its first ‘Daily Service’ from Savoy Hill in London, with The Rev H.R.L Sheppard C.H.,...
- 2021 / 12 / 20336 – The Feedback Loop – Part 22021.12.02 – 0336 – The Feedback Loop – Part 2When we are in a studio, we don’t have this verbal and non-verbal feedback loop because the audience is unseen: we can’t see their nods of agreement, or hear...
- 2021 / 12 / 10335 – Mouth Open, Eyes Closed2021.12.01 – 0335 – Mouth Open, Eyes ClosedI once knew a man who spoke in a very loud voice. He commanded the conversation both with his volume and also with his body language, because when he spoke in his...
- 2021 / 11 / 300334 – The Broken Feedback Loop2021.11.30 – 0334 – The Broken Feedback LoopIn a face-to-face or even voice-to-voice conversation (such as a phone call), most people constantly monitor their role in relation to...
- 2021 / 11 / 290333 – The Big Projection Problem2021.11.29 – 0333 – The Big Projection ProblemThe big problem is that in our line of work - broadcasting, podcasting or voice-overing – we are in an ‘unnatural situation’. A million years ago, our prehistoric...
- 2021 / 11 / 280332 – Presenting Projections on TV and Radio2021.11.28 – 0332 – Presenting Projections on TV and RadioIn television a conversational projection is more appropriate because the reader has an illusion of eye contact with the audience, and television...
- 2021 / 11 / 270331 – Interpretations of Projections2021.11.27 – 0331 – Interpretations of Projections Loud speakers can come over as assured and energetic - or aggressive or bumptious, full of themselves, larger than life, maybe a bit of a bully. They can’t...
- 2021 / 11 / 260330 – Why Various Voice Volumes Are Vital2021.11.26 – 0330 – Why Various Voice Volumes Are VitalWhy ‘Various Voice Volumes Are Vital’So why is cranking the dial up or down so useful both with scripts and adlibs? In natural English-presentation,...
- 2021 / 11 / 250329 – What Is ‘Energy’?2021.11.25 – 0329 – What Is ‘Energy’?Energy (or ‘presence’)This is slightly different from both volume and projection, but does have elements of those within it. ‘Energy’ is subtle and complex, and is a...
- 2021 / 11 / 240328 – The Shower Head Analogy2021.11.24 – 0328 – The Shower Head AnalogyProjection is ‘your voice with focus’. Think of the settings on a shower head: one may be a wide ‘rain shower’ spray, another a ‘full body’ spray covering a smaller...
- 2021 / 11 / 230327 – What Is ‘Projection’?2021.11.23 – 0327 – What Is ‘Projection’?Projection – There is a subtle difference between ‘volume’ and ‘projection’, where the latter is a more nuanced way of ‘throwing one’s voice’ when speaking on mic in a...
- 2021 / 11 / 220326 – What Is ‘Volume’?2021.11.22 – 0326 – What Is ‘Volume’?DEFINITIONSVolume – is a basic degree in softness or loudness of your voice along the path from whispering to shouting (or ‘raising one’s voice’). Sound is measured in...
- 2021 / 11 / 210325 – How You Naturally Pump Up The Volume2021.11.21 – 0325 – How You Naturally Pump Up The VolumeHow You Naturally Pump Up The VolumeAs we saw many chapters ago, your voice is produced by air from the lungs moving over the vocal cords in...
- 2021 / 11 / 200324 – A Mix Of Modulators2021.11.20 – 0324 – A MIx Of Modulators Of course, volume and projection are part of the overall ‘mix of modulators’ which combine in varying degrees to give you your unique voice that you use in...
- 2021 / 11 / 190323 – The Volume of Your Voice – plus a shout out to projection and energy2021.11.19 – 0323 – The Volume of Your Voice – plus a shout out to projection and energy “The mouth is a true index of character.It is through the mouth and eyes that all emotions are expressed”A.A....
- 2021 / 11 / 180322 – Intonation Summary2021.11.18 – 0322 – In SummaryA common failing of script readers is banging out every, say, fifth word, like a beat on a drum.Or banging out unimportant words, the ‘grammar glue’ that simply link a sentence...
- 2021 / 11 / 170321 – Final Intonation Considerations2021.11.17 – 0321 – Final Intonation ConsiderationsOnce you have pre-read and rehearsed and are confident in what the sense of the script is, don’t necessarily read it exactly the same way each and every...
- 2021 / 11 / 160320 – What Am I Talking About2021.11.16 – 0320 – What Am I Talking AboutWhat am I talking about?“She is a miniature horse breeder and is married to an English professor.”Is she a horse breeder who is small in height, and married to a...
- 2021 / 11 / 150319 – Intonations In Different Languages2021.11.15 – 0319 – Intonations In Different Languages INTONATIONS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGESEach language has its intonation and some are more musical than others. In English, a wide range is used. In some...
- 2021 / 11 / 140318 – Prick Up Your Ears2021.11.14 – 0318 – Prick Up Your EarsThis ‘skeleton script’ comprising of just the meaning-full words, are the ones which are lifted and if you only heard these ones perhaps on the radio in the car when the...
- 2021 / 11 / 130317 – The Magic Skeleton2021.11.13 – 0317 – The Magic SkeletonYou have to be careful with intonation of course:· If you lift the wrong words that you begin to sound like a bad robot and...
- 2021 / 11 / 120316 – Hearing Your Own Intonation2021.11.12 – 0316 – Hearing Your Own IntonationIt is difficult to be aware of the exact intonation of your own presentation, partly because of how we hear ourselves ‘inside ourselves’ through our own sound...
- 2021 / 11 / 110315 – The ‘Question Intonation’2021.11.11 – 0315 – The ‘Question Intonation’Those who have a ‘sing-songy’ voice which goes unnecessarily up-and-down in tone (the ‘sea-sick syndrome’), can come over as patronising. It may sound ‘up and...
- 2021 / 11 / 100314 – Circumflex Intonation2021.11.10 – 0314 – Circumflex IntonationBut the human voice is capable of much more intonational gymnastics! Within some words we can go down … and then up and then down again. Or up, down, and up...
- 2021 / 11 / 90313 – The Flat Intonation2021.11.09 – 0313 – The Flat IntonationAnd in some situations, I may just have an almost flat intonation (with a slight raise) on a word, to signpost a meaning to the listener. For example, if I am talking,...
- 2021 / 11 / 80312 – The Downward Circumflex Intonation Within A Word2021.11.08 – 0312 – The Downward Circumflex Intonation Within A Word This is, unsurprisingly, a word said in a higher pitch followed by a lower one, and as you might expect often signifies...
- 2021 / 11 / 70311 – The Upward Circumflex Intonation Within A Word2021.11.07 – 0311 – The Upward Circumflex Intonation Within A Word This is when you start saying a word in one tone, and then end it on another, giving the word an upward tonal spin from one syllable to...
- 2021 / 11 / 60310 – The ‘Intonation Circumflex’2021.11.06 – 0310 – The ‘Intonation Circumflex’But one doesn’t always merely ‘push’ a whole word, sometimes by changing your inflection within a word it carries another meaning. This is the ‘word-wobble’ or...
- 2021 / 11 / 50309 – Intonation for Comedians2021.11.05 – 0309 – Intonation for ComediansOK this is a bit off topic, but let’s spend a moment looking at intonation in respect of the delivery of a joke. One of the reasons something is funny is...
- 2021 / 11 / 40308 – How Mis-Intonation Can Cause Mis-Direction2021.11.04 – 0308 – How Mis-Intonation Can Cause Mis-DirectionNot intonating the correct words can completely alter its meaning and tone, leading to a completely different message given to the...
- 2021 / 11 / 30307 – 13 – A Brief Bit on Brackets (or ‘A Pause for a Part on Parentheses’)2021.11.03 – 0307 – 13 – A Brief Bit on Brackets (or ‘A Pause for a Part on Parentheses’)You will be unlikely to find these in news or commercial reads (although sometimes you might), these are clauses which...
- 2021 / 11 / 20306 – 12 – Positive Intonation About Negative Information2021.11.02 – 0306 – 12 – Positive Intonation About Negative InformationRemember earlier we looked at the fulcrum of facts in a story or sentence? That is, ‘this person says this and that person says that’?...
- 2021 / 11 / 10305 – 11 – Positive Intonation About Positive Information2021.11.01 – 0305 – 11 – Positive Intonation About Positive InformationThe ideas about highlighting contrasting and new information join together, when we look at ‘positive’ words such as ‘any’, ‘all’ and...
- 2021 / 10 / 300304 – Grammar Glue Part 22021.10.31 – 0304 – Grammar Glue Part 2or – and and or are often two sides of the same coin. “And” is often giving additional information, whereas “or” usually suggests options or alternatives are...
- 2021 / 10 / 290303 – 10 – Grammar Glue2021.10.30 – 0303 – 10 – Grammar GlueConsider a dodgy phone connection and you can only hear some of what a friend is saying. You get the gist of the content from the meaningful words in the sentence: the...
- 2021 / 10 / 280302 – 9 – By Super-Stressing One Insignificant Word, You Downplay The Sense Of The Sentence2021.10.29 – 0302 – 9 – By Super-Stressing One Insignificant Word, You Downplay The Sense Of The Sentence“Christmas is the best time of the year.” It’s a short, straightforward sentence: this speaker loves...
- 2021 / 10 / 270301 – More Intonation Confusion2021.10.28 – 0301 – More Intonation Confusion In a news item about the Kashmir earthquake, one presenter said that she was going to speak to “someone who was in the country [Pakistan] at the time of the...
- 2021 / 10 / 260300 – 8 – Beware of Potential Intonation Confusion2021.10.27 – 0300 – 8 – Beware of Potential Intonation Confusion We have already seen how colouring different words in a sentence leads to a change in meaning of that sentence. Therefore, if you...
- 2021 / 10 / 250299 – 7 – Take Notice Of What Is Implied2021.10.26 – 0299 – 7 – Take Notice Of What Is Implied When no contrast is impliedThere are some phrases in which to colour one part over another, suggests a contrast that does not or cannot...
- 2021 / 10 / 240298 – Purposeful Mis-Intonation2021.10.25 – 0298 – Purposeful Mis-IntonationIt’s similar in this e-learning script: “Human beings inhales mainly oxygen and exhales mainly carbon dioxide…” – we might normally say ex-HALE, but because of its...
- 2021 / 10 / 230297 – 6 – Shades of Colour2021.10.24 – 0297 – 6 – Shades of ColourIn your ‘vocal palette’ you:· slightly colour new information…· give...
- 2021 / 10 / 220296 – Guiding The Listener2021.10.23 – 0296 – Guiding The ListenerIt’s a complicated explanation, and your intonation will help the listener through who is doing what with who and when. And that of course is the point of...
- 2021 / 10 / 210295 – Contrasts Within Contrasts2021.10.22 – 0295 – Contrasts Within Contrasts Let’s make it a bit more fun, because sometimes there’s more than one contrast, or contrasts within contrasts! “Some dealerships give you a free vehicle...
- 2021 / 10 / 200294 – 5 – Look For The Balance2021.10.21 – 0294 – 5 – Look For The BalanceLook for the fulcrum in the story – what balances one side of it with another. A story is often a story because the arc is based around an axis-point: ‘while...
- 2021 / 10 / 190293 – 4 – How Long Before An Old Idea Is New Again2021.10.20 – 0293 – 4 – How Long Before An Old Idea Is New AgainYeah, good point. I mean, if you’re reading a longer script, a word, term or idea may keep reappearing. You can’t subdue every subsequent...
- 2021 / 10 / 180292 – 3 – Synonyms: simple and advanced2021.10.19 – 0292 – 3 – Synonyms: simple and advancedWe looked at the basic synonyms earlier. This is when “the Prime Minister” is then referred to as “she”, or “The Green Fingered Gardening Group” is called...
- 2021 / 10 / 170291 – ‘Reading In’2021.10.18 – 0291 – ‘Reading In’ In broadcast newsrooms, the person who writes the introduction to a story (the cue) may not be the person who goes on and actually records the script of the story itself....
- 2021 / 10 / 160290 – Grades Of Lifting And Subduing2021.10.17 – 0290 – Grades Of Lifting And SubduingYou will remember the musical stave earlier, and realise that it’s not a matter of rising up from and down to your ‘home tone’ of intonation, in many cases...
- 2021 / 10 / 150289 – Subduing Old Information: Examples2021.10.16 – 0289 – Subduing Old Information: ExamplesLet’s look at the idea of subduing old information with a few more examples:· “The England football captain...
- 2021 / 10 / 140288 – When Information Is Implied2021.10.15 – 0288 – When Information Is Implied VOICE BOX This subduing of old information also, as I mentioned before, goes for information which – although never explicitly said – is...
- 2021 / 10 / 130287 – The Synonym Intonation Substitution.2021.10.14 – 0287 – The Synonym Intonation Substitution. Here’s a quick way to work out whether you should be ‘colouring a synonym’: simply put into effect The Synonym Intonation...
- 2021 / 10 / 120286 – What To Do About Synonyms2021.10.13 – 0286 – What To Do About SynonymsThe same goes when synonyms (other words which have the same meaning) are used:· “A man’s been stabbed on Epsom...
- 2021 / 10 / 110285 – 2 - Un-colour Old Information2021.10.12 – 0285 – 2 - Un-colour Old InformationUnimportant or old information (that is, detail which is already known or presumed to be known), can be ‘thrown away’ in your delivery and does not need to be...
- 2021 / 10 / 100284 – What Are Meaningful Words?2021.10.11 – 0284 – What Are Meaningful Words? VOICE BOXMeaning-ful wordsThese are the words which help make the story, the story. They are the ‘magic key’ words to help the listener understand what is...
- 2021 / 10 / 90283 – 1 - Colour Important New Information2021.10.10 – 0283 – 1 - Colour Important New Information Here are then, some keys to a good read. 1 – Colour Important New Information In ad-libbed speaking we naturally highlight the detail that...
- 2021 / 10 / 80282 – Intentional Intonation2021.10.09 – 0282 – Intentional IntonationTHE GUIDE to INTENTIONAL INTONATIONYour intonation education and behaviour modification, starts here!Accurate intonation is the most important of all elements in...
- 2021 / 10 / 70281 – Emma’s Story2021.10.08 – 0281 – Emma’s StoryIf you understand the sense of the story, why it is relevant and interesting, then you stand a better chance of making it compelling when you read it. Put yourself in the...
- 2021 / 10 / 60280 – - How to Sound Like You Know What You’re Talking About.2021.10.07 – 0280 – - How to Sound Like You Know What You’re Talking About.- How to sound like you know what you’re talking about.You can do this by actually knowing what you’re talking about. (You can’t fake...
- 2021 / 10 / 50279 – The Bus Driver Analogy2021.10.06 – 0279 – The Bus Driver AnalogyIf you have ‘randomisation of intonation’ then it’s like travelling on a bus with a driver who keeps clipping the curb. You get so caught up with hanging on to the...
- 2021 / 10 / 40278 – Intonation Is Easier If…2021.10.05 – 0278 – Intonation Is Easier If…‘Read intonation’ becomes easier if you:· Understand the message of the script or...
- 2021 / 10 / 30277 – Nervous Newbies2021.10.04 – 0277 – Nervous NewbiesThis person is a beginner in reading, perhaps live on air. Their problem is that they start their read not on their ‘home pitch’ but one or two octaves higher, which means...
- 2021 / 10 / 20276 – The ‘Grand Old Duke Of York’ Readers2021.10.03 – 0276 – The ‘Grand Old Duke Of York’ ReadersThese are the presenters who rise in pitch as the sentence goes on, then pause three words from the end of it before completing it on… [1] a [2]...
- 2021 / 10 / 10275 – ‘Intonation Stew’ Readers2021.10.02 – 0275 – ‘Intonation Stew’ ReadersSometimes I hear a script that sounds like an ‘intonation stew’, with intonations rising and falling for no apparent reason, and emphasis either in all the wrong...
- 2021 / 9 / 300274 – Action Intonators2021.10.01 – 0274 – Action IntonatorsI have also read advice to “stress every verb, because they’re action-words”. That is simply wrong! There may be some sense in colouring (not ‘stress’ please!)...
- 2021 / 9 / 290273 – Plonking2021.09.30 – 0273 – Plonking“Just a little tip, you don’t underline every third word for emphasis because it sounds really unnatural” that’s what Ira Glass the host and producer of the radio and television...
- 2021 / 9 / 280272 – Intonation Constipation2021.09.29 – 0272 – Intonation ConstipationThis is when there is barely any intonation at all – your presentation style is as flat as Ian McDonald on diazepam.[1] With such a delivery, all the ‘story...
- 2021 / 9 / 270271 – The Stale Story Read2021.09.28 – 0271 – The Stale Story ReadAnother close relation, The Stale Story read is also the style of the 24-hour news channel presenter, who is reading the same script for the umpteenth hour and forgets...
- 2021 / 9 / 260270 – The News Channel Read2021.09.27 – 0270 – The News Channel ReadThis is the style of intonation in which every story is read in a similar style. It takes its name from the ’24-hour news’ style, where presenters don’t have time to...
- 2021 / 9 / 250269 – Sing-Song Reads2021.09.26 – 0269 – Sing-Song ReadsHere then is my ‘Reading Rogue’s Gallery’ – ‘criminal intonations’ committed by newbies who haven’t been trained properly, and old hands who’re stuck in a...
- 2021 / 9 / 240268 – When Wrong Words Are Intoned2021.09.25 – 0268 – When Wrong Words Are Intoned If the wrong words are ‘intoned’, you are not achieving the main part of your job: effective...
- 2021 / 9 / 230267 – When Intonation Goes Wrong2021.09.24 – 0267 – When Intonation Goes Wrong When Intonation Goes Wrong Later we will look at intonation, the lift or suppression of individual words and phrases to indicate significance. Mis-emphasis...
- 2021 / 9 / 220266 – Un-Colouring Words2021.09.23 – 0266 – Un-Colouring Words And the counterbalance to colouring or lifting a word or phrase, is ‘un-colouring’ or dropping a word or phrase. It’s part of ‘throwing away’ unimportant...
- 2021 / 9 / 210265 – The Intonation Colour Chart2021.09.22 – 0265 – The Intonation Colour Chart Intonational ‘colour chart’;There are four basic levels: Level 4 - Special Stress – more energy emphasis Level 3 - Primary Lift - slightly...
- 2021 / 9 / 200264 – Graduations of Intonations2021.09.21 – 0264 – Graduations of Intonations Intonation GradationsIntonation requires you to give the correct degree of colour to ‘key’ words or phrases in asentence, to show which of several possible...
- 2021 / 9 / 190263 – The Intonation Code2021.09.20 – 0263 – The Intonation CodeSo you will see by now that your intonation can greatly influence the meaning of the message and you have to select the weight of your intonation carefully to ensure...
- 2021 / 9 / 180262 – An Intonation Exercise2021.09.19 – 0262 – An Intonation Exercise You want another example? Try this: “He lost the point”. But depending how it is ‘intoned’ it could mean: · “He lost...
- 2021 / 9 / 170261 – The Red Hat Mystery2021.09.18 – 0261 – The Red Hat MysteryThose examples were with a single word, so now let’s try a similar exercise with the basic sentence “I didn’t say Roger took the red hat”. How we say each of those...
- 2021 / 9 / 160260 – “Hello…”2021.09.17 – 0260 – “Hello…”Intonation is what we all use naturally every day in our conversational speech. As native speakers of whatever language, we have the rhythms and flows, the up and downlifts, the...
- 2021 / 9 / 150259 – Intonation Illustrations2021.09.16 – 0259 – Intonation Illustrations Intonation illustrationsIntonation is the ‘punctuation of the spoken word’ used to signpost meaning when we’re talking.Of course, in the written word...
- 2021 / 9 / 140258 – The Goldilocks Rules Of Intonations2021.09.15 – 0258 – The Goldilocks Rules Of IntonationNuanced and naturalThe first thing to stress (!) is that intonation is usually a subtle blend of various vocal elements, nuanced and natural. It is...
- 2021 / 9 / 130257 – My Guide To Reading Out Loud, Naturally2021.09.14 – 0257 – My Guide To Reading Out Loud, NaturallyHere is my guide on ‘how to read out loud naturally’[1] which I developed as a BBC news presenter and then went on to use while train colleagues in...
- 2021 / 9 / 120256 - Weight And Pitch in Intonation2021.09.13 – 0256 - Weight And Pitch in IntonationAn Introduction to IntonationIntonation is, then, the weight and pitch one puts on individual words or phrases that draw attention to their significance and...
- 2021 / 9 / 110255 – Intonation Definitions2021.09.12-0255 – Intonation Definitions Intonation – is the subtle combination of tone, pitch and volume that you give to individual words or phrases as part of your overall musicality of inflection – and...
- 2021 / 9 / 100254 – Inflection Definitions0254 – Inflection Definitions INFLECTION AND INTONATION DEFINITIONSDefinitions for words surrounding different parts of speaking are many, varied and often interchangeable. For clarity I shall use:Inflection...
- 2021 / 9 / 90253 – An Introduction To Intonation0253 – An Introduction To IntonationIn this Intonation Section· How to recognize the principles of intonation used naturally in everyday...
- 2021 / 9 / 80252 – Non-Word Sounds0252 – Non-Word SoundsIt’s not just words that are requested in voice overs and voice acting. As we just saw, there are sighs gasps and screams too. Here are a few more sounds which are often requested at...
- 2021 / 9 / 70251 - How To Sound Happy And Friendly… And Sad0251 - How To Sound Happy And Friendly… And SadWhen you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. But what if they can't see you? What if they can just hear you? Smile and raise your...
- 2021 / 9 / 60250 - Tone and Your Mood0250 - Tone and Your MoodYour natural unforced vocal tone at any moment (and tone is different from ‘pitch’ remember) is partly a reflection of how you are feeling, your general mood, and physical and mental...
- 2021 / 9 / 50249 - A Change of Mood0249 - A Change of MoodThose voicing commercials or longer presentations such as e-books or explainers will have to work to alter their ‘performance attitude’ during a script. That’s...
- 2021 / 9 / 40248 - Brand Voices0248 - Brand VoicesEarlier we looked at the different kinds of emotional voice tones you may be required to replicate in your script-reading and also mentioned the ‘mood’ of the overall project.Brands often...
- 2021 / 9 / 30247 - Script Direction0247 - Script Direction More clues to your tone of voice will of course come from the direction both written in your script and from your human director in the studio. It should also set out who you are...
- 2021 / 9 / 20246 - The Gravity > Levity Tonal Scale0246 - The Gravity > Levity Tonal Scale THE GRAVITY > LEVITY TONAL SCALELet’s take that inexhaustive list again and re-work it so the emotions progress over time from a serious to a lighter emotion on...
- 2021 / 9 / 10245 – Onomatopoeia2021.09.02-0245 – Onomatopoeia Occasionally you will find it appropriate to use words which, when you say them, sound like what they mean. “So why don’t you zzzzip up your new winter coat and…”“… and all...
- 2021 / 8 / 310244 – I Love You0244 – I Love You“I love you” can be said in many different ways, but if you say it with the wrong tone for the moment, you may be in trouble…There will be clues in the script and the direction. If the...
- 2021 / 8 / 300243 - The Message Gives The Voice0243 - The Message Gives The VoiceSinging coach Judy Rodman suggests this exercise.[1] Sing or say the phrase “you're the reason I feel this way” and with the same seven words, intend to send these different...
- 2021 / 8 / 290242 – When Tonal Emotions Clash0242 – When tonal emotions clash Previously we looked at how a good understanding of vocabulary will help you as a broadcaster/podcaster, so you are better able to speak a script with significance – and...
- 2021 / 8 / 280241 - Twenty-Two Tonal Emotions0241 - Twenty-Two Tonal EmotionsThese aren’t by any means the only emotions which may be prompted by a script, but are here as a sample you can use in various rehearsal readings to explore your range. They...
- 2021 / 8 / 270240 - Tone In Voice Acting-0240 - TONE IN VOICE ACTINGWhereas in newsreading you have to be more impartial, with commercials you are quite the opposite: most definitely partial! You want to persuade people to your point of view, to...
- 2021 / 8 / 260239 - More on Changing ‘Tonal Tracks’0239 - More on changing ‘tonal tracks’A TV game show or shopping channel may also have to ‘turn on a sixpence’ with the presenter’s tone:· “Congratulations!...
- 2021 / 8 / 250238 -The Tonal Construct for a Presenter0238 -The tonal construct for a presenterThere are then certain parameters for a news reader, but not so for a presenter. Those on the radio, TV or fronting a video will benefit from showing more, authentic...
- 2021 / 8 / 240237 – Tonal Changes From Heavy to Light0237 – Tonal changes from heavy to lightSerious/sad – another sad story from the ‘universal emotions’ file. A serious tone, perhaps tinged with a hint of resignation as if to say “everyone had not dare fear...
- 2021 / 8 / 230236 – Rehearse Your Tone With These Real Scripts0236 – Rehearse your tone with these real scriptsStraightforward tone – Be careful. This is a political story, and even though it may look on the face of it as ‘good news’, it may be that the ‘devil is in the...
- 2021 / 8 / 220235 - Marking up a Script for Tonal Changes0235 - Marking up a script for tonal changesYou can mark your scripts with smiling or frowning emojis to remind you the kind of tone you need to adopt as you read it. Practicing appropriate toneAs I said...
- 2021 / 8 / 210234 - Working Out Appropriate Emotional Tone0234 - Working out appropriate emotional toneWhen you pre-read your script, work out the appropriate tone for the delivery of each story by asking yourself “How would I communicate this information if I...
- 2021 / 8 / 200233 - Your Start-of-Bulletin Tone0233 - Your start-of-bulletin toneAnd a quick thought: many news bulletins start with the reader saying “good morning” (or something similar), and all bulletins start with the most important story. As the...
- 2021 / 8 / 190232 - Emotional Tone in the News as a Story Develops Over Time0232 - Emotional tone in the news as a story develops over timeLet’s take another example. A toddler has been mauled by an out-of-control dog, and has died. You would likely read that with concern. Then a...
- 2021 / 8 / 180231 - Emotional Tone Within a Story0231 - Emotional tone within a storyBeware of tonal shifts within a script. A story that starts “300-million pounds is being given to…” sounds a ‘good news’ story, but how it continues may require a...
- 2021 / 8 / 170230 - Tonal changes within a bulletin0230 - Tonal changes within a bulletinTone also affects how you read each different story. The top one usually has more seriousness, and the last one a lighter tone. A well-constructed bulletin usually has...
- 2021 / 8 / 160229 - Changing ‘tonal tracks’0229 - Changing ‘tonal tracks’As a presenter you may be required to present a story about a singing parrot one moment and then deliver breaking news of a terrorist attack. Each of these stories needs to be...
- 2021 / 8 / 150228 - Appropriate emotional tone in the news0228 - Appropriate emotional tone in the newsYou would appear to be a robot or psychopath if you read every story with the same amount of ‘tone of voice’ – from a landslide burying children in a school to a...
- 2021 / 8 / 140227 - Too little emotional tone in the news0227 - Too little emotional tone in the news The requirement of balance leads to many news readers or broadcast journalists putting an emotional chasm between themselves and their story and such...
- 2021 / 8 / 130226 - Tone In the News0226 - Tone In the NewsTONE IN THE NEWSIn the UK and many other countries, broadcast news is different from the printed press in that news has to be fair, balanced and impartial. That even-handedness is not...
- 2021 / 8 / 120225 - Auditory Disconnections0225 - Auditory DisconnectionsWe’ll look at the amount of tone and emotion a little later, but for now let’s examine a bit more, the claim that the words you say and the tone in which they are said, have to...
- 2021 / 8 / 110224 – Tone And Emotion0224 – Tone And Emotion“We often refuse to accept an ideamerely because the tone of voice in which it has been expressed is unsympathetic to us.”Friedrich Nietzsche - German philosopher The right words...
- 2021 / 8 / 100223 - Pitch and Politicians223 - Pitch and PoliticiansThat having been said, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that political leaders with lower voices were perceived as more dominant and...
- 2021 / 8 / 90222 – Pitch And Perception0222 – Pitch And Perception Pitch and perceptionIn the past, society has judged people according to the pitch of their voice. Hopefully the days are gone, but even in the recent past, women with a high pitch...
- 2021 / 8 / 80221 – Pitch Variety0221 – Pitch VarietyTry and use a wide vocal range when speaking to make what you say more interesting. Some broadcasters compress their range (say, 4,5 and 6 in our example above), thinking that that gives...
- 2021 / 8 / 70220 – What A Carry On! Kenneth Williams On How His Comic Voice Caused Serious Injury0220 – What A Carry On! Kenneth Williams On How His Comic Voice Caused Serious InjuryForcing your voice to do anything unusual is not good, as the British comic actor Kenneth Williams recounted about the...
- 2021 / 8 / 60219 – What Accents Are The Most Sexy?0219 – What Accents Are The Most Sexy? Interested in this? Watch this video to find out more on what accents are considered sexy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/playlist/the-laws-of-attraction?vpid=p09f7crq...
- 2021 / 8 / 50218 – Research: Men With Deeper Voices Are More Attractive – But Cheat More0218 – Research: Men With Deeper Voices Are More Attractive – But Cheat MoreIn October 2020, Chinese researchers[1] claimed that although men with deep voices are more likely to attract a partner, they are...
- 2021 / 8 / 40217 – How Imperfect Pitch Got Jamal Into A Jam0217 – How Imperfect Pitch Got Jamal Into A Jam Forcing your voice into a ‘false pitch’, can literally cramp your style. A voice that is deliberately pushed low can sound unnaturally strained and...
- 2021 / 8 / 30216 – Margaret Thatcher’s Pitch Profile0216 – Margaret Thatcher’s Pitch Profile “From tape recordings of speeches made before and after receiving tuition a marked difference can be very hear. When there are played through an electronic pitch...
- 2021 / 8 / 20215 – Lowering Your Pitch0215 – Lowering Your PitchLowering your pitchYour register is not only dictated by the speed your vocal folds vibrate, but also how taught they are. So, it stands to reason that to lower it, your folds need...
- 2021 / 8 / 10214 - Politicians’ Different Pitches For Different People And Different Policies0214 Politicians’ Different Pitches For Different People And Different Policies A study at UCLA[1] found that the best speakers, usually politicians, varied their voice within a single speech to appeal to...
- 2021 / 7 / 310213 - The ‘Higher And Louder’ Pitfall0213 - The ‘Higher And Louder’ PitfallWe look at the volume of a voice a little later, but for now let’s take a glance its relationship with pitch, because there is a potential pitfall of using volume for...
- 2021 / 7 / 300212 - Your Pitch Range0212 - Your Pitch Range If you use a wide pitch range when speaking will help engage your audience. That’s not to say it should be super-wide: swooping up and down from sentence to sentence will make you...
- 2021 / 7 / 290211 - Your Actual Natural Voice Pitch0211 - Your Actual Natural Voice Pitch Now you are stress-free, and belly-breathing, simply say your name, as though you have been asked it by as new acquaintance. The pitch you use when you say that in a...
- 2021 / 7 / 280210 – Michael Caine on How Your Voice Pitch Can Be Affected By Nerves0210 – Michael Caine on How Your Voice Pitch Can Be Affected By Nerves Nerves and Pitch When you are nervous and your body is tense it has little breath support, and you will tend to start a sentence in the...
- 2021 / 7 / 270209 – Stressful Sally’s Story0209 – Stressful Sally’s Story Sally worked as a TV presenter out of a small and busy newsroom where everyone was expected to do everything. She loved her job but was concerned about the pitch of her...
- 2021 / 7 / 260208 – Your Resting Pitch0208 – Your Resting PitchYour resting pitchYour pitch will have a centre note, a ‘home’ from which you will be able to inflect words and sentences up and down within a range. It’s where your natural speaking...
- 2021 / 7 / 250207 – Why You Sound Different To You0207 – Why You Sound Different To YouThe reason your voice sounds different to you rather than how everyone else hears it, is because of acoustics.Everyone else hears exactly the same ‘end result’ of sound...
- 2021 / 7 / 240206 - So what is ‘pitch’?0206 - So what is ‘pitch’?Whether a voice is high or low in tone is determined by:· the rate of vibration of the vocal cords as air passes over them - the more...
- 2021 / 7 / 230205 – An Introduction to Pitch0205 – An Introduction to Pitch“Words mean more than what is set down on paper.It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning”Maya Angelou - Poet and civil rights activistDefinitionsI try to be...
- 2021 / 7 / 220204 – Don’t Be Too Much0204 – Don’t Be Too Much1. Too much punch – you will be running short of...
- 2021 / 7 / 210203 – Reading Out Loud0203 – Reading Out LoudOf course on radio and podcasts, when you aren’t seen, sound is all that you have to create visuals. That may be music or sound effects, and also the words that you utter, but it is...
- 2021 / 7 / 200202 – The Story So Far0202 – The Story So Far“The tongue can paint what the eyes can’t see.”Chinese proverb You can see how our ‘voyage of the voice’ continues; let’s chart the progress we have made so...
- 2021 / 7 / 190201 - Be Prepared But Flexible0201 - Be Prepared But Flexible Be prepared but flexibleFlexible? Yes, many times the director and the clients at a voice-over production will disagree amongst themselves on how a script should be read,...
- 2021 / 7 / 180200 - Taking Apart A Voice Over Script Pt 30200 - Taking Apart A Voice Over Script Pt 3 · Big Name Kitchen Electricalso Another way to signify importance of a words is to give initial...
- 2021 / 7 / 170199 - Taking Apart A Voice Over Script Pt 20199 - Taking Apart A Voice Over Script Pt 2 That script is not helpful!· Save o This is bold and italicised, but it’s unclear why. Certainly...
- 2021 / 7 / 160198 – Taking Apart A Voice Over Script Pt 10198 – Taking Apart A Voice Over Script Pt 1The marks ‘built in’ to the script by the writer should give you an idea of the intention behind the words, how they ‘heard the words’ in their head as it was being...
- 2021 / 7 / 150197 – How To Be A Better Reader0197 – How To Be A Better ReaderHow to be a better readerTo be a better reader… become a better reader! · Read more content – magazines, games cartridges, cereal...
- 2021 / 7 / 140196 – She Fell From Her House0196 – She Fell From Her HouseWhen You Make A Mistake On AirThis may simply be a result of poor sight reading, not having enough time to pre-read a script, not marking it up correctly, reading too fast, being...
- 2021 / 7 / 130195 – Over-Rehearsing0195 – Over-RehearsingOver-rehearsingHowever, (!) recording a script over and over until it’s perfect (whatever that is!) doesn’t necessarily help. It’s possible that you read it so much that you forget what...
- 2021 / 7 / 120194 - Rehearsing Your Script0194 - Rehearsing Your Script Rehearsals If you have every watched “Strictly Come Dancing” or “Dancing with the Stars” on the tv, I would imagine that you have never presumed that neither the pros not the...
- 2021 / 7 / 110193 – Marking Up For… An Awkward Word0193 – Marking Up For… An Awkward WordMarking up for… an awkward wordTo flag troublesome terms (ones that might cause pronunciation problems, we looked at these before), consider drawing a box or circle...
- 2021 / 7 / 100192 – Marking Up For… A Faster Read0192 – Marking Up For… A Faster ReadMarking up for… a faster read (more on the ‘speed of a read’ later)Some texts are presented quickly to add excitement and others more slowly to give perhaps a more...
- 2021 / 7 / 90191 – Marking Up For… Tone0191 – Marking Up For… ToneMarking up for… tone (more on tone later)It is usually straightforward to record a commercial voice over in the correct tone, because you will have had a chance to read it in...
- 2021 / 7 / 80190 – Marking Up For… Questions0190 – Marking Up For… Questions Marking up for… questionsDo you know how question marks are used?Of course, you do! But I wrote that sentence to illustrate how, when you read it aloud or in your mind, your...
- 2021 / 7 / 70189 – Marking Up For… Inflection0189 – Marking Up For… InflectionMarking up for … inflection (more on the inflection, later)Where emphasis is the basic ‘thumping’ of a word, inflection is the gentler (and often more effective) tonal-lift....
- 2021 / 7 / 60188 – Marking Up For… Emphasis188 – Marking Up For… Emphasis Marking up for … emphasis (more on the emphasis later)Usually, such terms are either written in CAPITALS, or underlined. A double underlining, or a CAPITALISATION that is...
- 2021 / 7 / 50187 – Phrase Markings: A Practical2021.07.06-0187 – Phrase Markings: A Practical So you could spit a sentence into phrases, or cluster phrases with an elongated circle or bunch the words together by-hyphenating-them.Marking up your script in...
- 2021 / 7 / 40186 – Marking Up For…Phrases2021.07.05-0186 – Marking Up For…PhrasesMarking up for … a phraseYour script will have punctuation for sure, but of course, that’s an ‘artificial articulatory construct’ – in other words, we don’t speak using...
- 2021 / 7 / 30185 – Dashes and Ellipses in… Scripts2021.07.04-0185 – Dashes and Ellipses in… ScriptsBut in scripts for news or commercials, they (or dashes --) are likely to be used as a more eye-catching alternative to a comma. They help break up a...
- 2021 / 7 / 20184 – The Full Stop/Period and Comma2021.07.03-0184 – The Full Stop/Period and CommaThe full stop / periodThis indicates:· Where a breath may be...
- 2021 / 7 / 10183 – Now *You* Mark-Up For Breaths2021.07.02-0183 – Now *You* Mark-Up For BreathsTransatlantic flights from the UK to the United States could take longer because of climate change. Researchers at the University of Reading say that global...
- 2021 / 6 / 300182 – A ‘Marking Up’ Practical2021.07.01-0182 – A ‘Marking Up’ PracticalHere’s our raw script.New data has revealed car production in the UK fell to its lowest September level for a quarter of a century. The Society of Motor Manufacturers...
- 2021 / 6 / 290181 – Marking Up For… Phrases and Breaths2021.06.30-0181 – Marking Up For… Phrases and BreathsMarking up for … phrases and breathsIn copy written by someone else, full stops (or ‘periods’), commas and other punctuation (such as dashes and ellipses…)...
- 2021 / 6 / 280180 – ‘Marking Up A Script’ Tips2021.06.29-0180 – ‘Marking Up A Script’ TipsMaking annotations on your page will help you communicate your message.Normal punctuation will only get you so far, commas giving a basic idea of phrases within a...
- 2021 / 6 / 270179 – If *You* Don’t Understand It…2021.06.28-0179 – If *You* Don’t Understand It…It may be at this stage, or certainly after you have read the item a couple more times that those questions are still unanswered. It is rare to go on air and...
- 2021 / 6 / 260178 – Basic Script Analysis2021.06.27-0178 – Basic Script Analysis You may think it’s easy to ‘read out loud’ from a script. But converting copy to authentic audio is a skill. After all it may not be written the way that you yourself...
- 2021 / 6 / 250177 – Marking Up A Script2021.06.26-0177 – Marking Up A ScriptThis is where we start to turn a bland page of text into something more resembling a musical score, giving us directions of how to say each word and phrase, in a polished...
- 2021 / 6 / 240176 - Writing A Script To Be Translated2021.06.25-0176 - Writing A Script To Be TranslatedWriting a script that’s to be translatedForeign languages may be, literally, all Greek to you, in which case don’t rely on auto-translators. They’re...
- 2021 / 6 / 230175 – Your Written Direction2021.06.24-0175 – Your Written DirectionThe written directionThe script should match the content, and the audience, and the reader and their tone.Let’s go through...
- 2021 / 6 / 220174 – Proof Reading2021.06.23-0174 – Proof ReadingProof readingDone your script? Now proof read – read it out to test it out.Yes, if you or someone is going to read it out loud then that’s the process you have got to go through...
- 2021 / 6 / 210173 – Unintended Scripted Jokes2021.06.22-0173 – Unintended Scripted JokesUnintended jokesAmbiguity offers the audience a rich source of humour at the newsreader’s expense. Orchestra musicians at the Royal Opera House are threatening to...
- 2021 / 6 / 200172 – Typo Tragedies2021.06.21-0172 – Typo TragediesTyposI was once left a story to read on-air “A woman has died after falling from her house” after a slapdash colleague had meant to write “horse”, but the first sentence looked...
- 2021 / 6 / 190171 – Sing-Song Scripts2021.06.20-0171 – Sing-Song ScriptsSing-song scriptsSentences of varying length will help you avoid a sing-song rhythm and incorrect intonation (with the emphasis on the repetition of a beat rather than where...
- 2021 / 6 / 180170 – Similarly Spelt Words2021.06.19-0170 – Similarly Spelt WordsIt may be that the writer has incorrectly spelled a word, or that you know from your own experience that your eye-to-mouth co-ordination on some words always catches you...
- 2021 / 6 / 170169 – Rhyme Time2021.06.18-0169 – Rhyme TimeRhyme-timeThese are invariably unintended and are only realised when a script comes to be read aloud:Mr Grimes said at the time he didn’t mind the fine, Defence Counsel Simon...
- 2021 / 6 / 160168 – Can I Quote You?2021.06.17-0168 – Can I Quote You?Quote marks It is rare that you will have a direct quote in a script, news or otherwise, but if you do, it indicates that the words must not be changed. That’s usually for a...
- 2021 / 6 / 150167 – Problematic Punctuations2021.06.16-0167 – Problematic PunctuationsPunctuationA good script should be properly punctuated… to be read aloud! So that may not stick strictly accurately to the grammar and structure were taught at...
- 2021 / 6 / 140166 - Problematic Pronunciations2021.06.15-0166 – Problematic PronunciationsPronunciationsCheck any word of phrase you are not familiar with, or with which you just know you will trip up...
- 2021 / 6 / 130165 – Initially Speaking2021.06.14-0165 – Initially SpeakingInitialisationsBeware of initials of organisations that are said as individual letters:· The RMT...
- 2021 / 6 / 120164 – (Talking In Parenthesis)Brackets / parenthesisIn broadcast scripts, words or phrases in brackets are usually not to be read out loud:· A direction to a presenter “(TURN TO CAMERA 1)”,...
- 2021 / 6 / 110163 – All About Alliteration0163 – All About AlliterationA little alliteration (try saying that out loud!) may occasionally be acceptable, but sometimes several similar sounds spoken aloud sound stupid, while a series of superfluous...
- 2021 / 6 / 100162 – How To Say ‘100’0162 – How To Say ‘100’A copywriter once showed me a script:“This bed is now only 126.99 that’s down by 259.06!” And said:“If it’s the price you’re selling it’s ‘a hundred and 26-99’, not ‘one-hundred’,...
- 2021 / 6 / 90161 – Cut The Number Of Numbers0161 – Cut The Number Of Numbers “The current estimate of £200m is around £50m lower than this time last year”“The current estimate of 200-million pounds is around 50-million lower than this time last...
- 2021 / 6 / 80160 – Put The Best Word On The Beat0160 – Put The Best Word On The Beat“The mood between the Prime Minister and the President as gone from bad to worse today, because of the new trade war.” “Police say the body of a man has been found in the...
- 2021 / 6 / 70159 – Where To Put The Word You Want To Emphasise0159 – Where To Put The Word You Want To EmphasiseAs Mervin Block and Joe Durso say[1] , such a construction creates tension and interest. In the English language it’s what we do in conversation: “I’m...
- 2021 / 6 / 60158 - Cut Clichés And Keep Familiar Words0158 - Cut Clichés And Keep Familiar Words Shakespeare often made fun of pompous speech.“An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.” (Richard III)And when the first English dictionary was published...
- 2021 / 6 / 50157 - Say Who Says Something, Before Saying What They Said0157 - Say Who Says Something, Before Saying What They Said “It’s the best new podcast mic that has been released in 10 years… that’s what newpodcastmics.com said in a recent review…”....
- 2021 / 6 / 40156 – Don’t Use An Introductory Phrase Or Clause0156 – Don’t Use An Introductory Phrase Or Clause“So I can rise up the Apple podcast charts, I’m going to ask you to leave a review” “I’m going to ask you to leave a review so I can rise up the Apple podcast...
- 2021 / 6 / 30155 – Keep Words Short And Relatable0155 – Keep Words Short And RelatableAs well as keeping sentences short, keep words short. Most people use short words when they talk in ‘real life’, so if you’re trying to emulate this style then think of...
- 2021 / 6 / 20154 – The Easy-Listening Formula0154 – The Easy-Listening FormulaAmerican broadcaster Irving E. Fang researched what makes broadcast copy easy or difficult to understand. He devised the Easy Listening Formula, which is based on the length...
- 2021 / 6 / 10153 – Multi-Syllable Sentences0153 – Multi-Syllable SentencesThe Schools Minister Nick Gibb says allowing students in England to use their mock exam results is an extra safety net for a small group of pupils. This follows a decision by...
- 2021 / 5 / 310152 – Keep Sentences Short0152 – Keep Sentences Short“I have invited her onto the podcast this week in order for you to be able to literally hear for yourself the changes she’s in the process of making” becomes “I’ve invited her so...
- 2021 / 5 / 300151 – Length Is Not Important0151 – Length Is Not ImportantOne problem is often that people write the same way they used to write essays at school or university, or are too used to writing in a business setting – reports, and...
- 2021 / 5 / 290150 – When We Write For The Eye And Not The Ear0150 – When We Write For The Eye And Not The Ear Here are some of the scripts I refer to in today's episode:The new three-tier system for coronavirus restrictions has come into force in England.We are used to...
- 2021 / 5 / 280149 – If A Script Is Easily Understood By The Reader, It’s More Easily Understood By The Listener0149 – If A Script Is Easily Understood By The Reader, It’s More Easily Understood By The ListenerBig-buck, big-brand broadcasting businesses have brilliant creatives and productions.But there’s also...
- 2021 / 5 / 270148 - Why A Good Script Can Help Your Presentation0148 – Why A Good Script Can Help Your Presentation So, why is a good script important in helping you get a better voice?:It will be clearly laid out Sentence structure will be clearThe sentences will be...
- 2021 / 5 / 260147 – How Better Writing Leads To Better Reading0147 – How Better Writing Leads To Better ReadingHow a script is written can make a huge difference to how you read it. So first we’ll look at preparing your own script, and then we’ll look at how to mark-up...
- 2021 / 5 / 250146 – How To Say Acronyms, Dates, Numbers and Scores0146 – How To Say Acronyms, Dates, Numbers and ScoresAcronymsAcronyms are sometimes spelt out and sometimes read as words. There is AEE union, the Association of Engineering Employee (“A-double-E”), but...
- 2021 / 5 / 240145 – Word Blindness0145 – Word BlindnessWe all have words with which we have ‘blocks’ when it comes how to say them. This may be because of a fear of pronouncing them incorrectly and looking daft or because you simply find them...
- 2021 / 5 / 230144 - How To Make A Word Easier To Say0144 – How To Make A Word Easier To SayWriting a pronunciation phoneticallyOne of the easiest ways to write a word phonetically is to break it down into syllables, clearly indicating any inflection and run-on...
- 2021 / 5 / 220143 – Saying An Awkward Name Is Not A Game0143 – Saying An Awkward Name Is Not A Game People’s namesLike places, these can often be awkward to pronounce: are Smith and Smyth said the same way, or is that second one ‘smithe’? What about...
- 2021 / 5 / 210142 – The BBC’s Official Pronunciation Test - The Answers0142 – The BBC’s Official Pronunciation Test See how accurately you would have read this script, I’ve borrowed from one of the BBC’s online training courses: “Police in Fife say they’ve seized...
- 2021 / 5 / 200141 – The BBC’s Official Pronunciation Test0141 – The BBC’s Official Pronunciation Test See how accurately you would have read this script, I’ve borrowed from one of the BBC’s online training courses: “Police in Fife say they’ve seized...
- 2021 / 5 / 200140 – Quirky Ways Of Saying A Word0140 – Quirky Ways Of Saying A Word Local and regional pronunciations As far as local pronunciations go, any regional TV or radio station should have a written guide (and perhaps an audio one as well) to...
- 2021 / 5 / 180139 – Pronouncing Foreign Words0139 – Pronouncing Foreign Words Foreign namesForeign names can be quite awkward to come across, but with the increasingly global village, they are much more likely to appear. A produced commercial...
- 2021 / 5 / 170138 – Pronunciation Guides0138 – Pronunciation Guides Pronunciation guidesPronunciation guides are available online: use a reliable one such as ‘The Oxford BBC Guide to Pronunciation’[1]. For BBC staff, the Corporation has its...
- 2021 / 5 / 160137 – Misheard Words0137 – Misheard WordsCommunication confusionA particular problem in clear communication may occur for your listener if they mishear one word for another which could make sense – but have a very different...
- 2021 / 5 / 150136 – Why English Is Such A Tough Language To Learn0136 – Why English Is Such A Tough Language To Learn VOICE BOXOur Strange Lingo[1]The Chaos I take it you already knowOf tough and bough and cough and dough?Others may stumble, but not you,On hiccough,...
- 2021 / 5 / 140135 – Pismronunciation Errors0135 – Pismronunciation Errors Some speaking errors may be because of a lack of understanding of the language (maybe if English is a second language), not having seen it written down, or having seen it...
- 2021 / 5 / 130134 – “Where’s My Demmyster?”0134 – “Where’s My Demmyster?” PRONUNCIATIONYou may have superb articulation, with every twist of the tongue and every placement of the palate and location of the lips perfect in every way, but how you...
- 2021 / 5 / 120133 – Verbal Fluidity0133 – Verbal Fluidity Verbal fluidityA little fluidity in your speech sounds more melodic than the almost-stuttering caused by giving stress to very single letter, down to, literally, the last ‘t’....
- 2021 / 5 / 110132 – Diction For Communication0132 – Diction For Communication Diction for communicationTimes and expectations change, so exacting and over-clear clarity of every single syllable is usually unnecessary. It can make you sound at best...
- 2021 / 5 / 100131 – The Voice Over Wannabe Who Faked His Audition Tape0131 – The Voice Over Wannabe Who Faked His Audition Tape“I’ve been chewing a lot of gum, and I’ve only found one with an all-day flavour … pop it in your mouth in the morning and it’ll be pepperminty right...
- 2021 / 5 / 90130 – Overcoming Articulation Issues0130 – Overcoming Articulation Issues Some articulation issues may be because of a physical problem with the tongue or palate. Winston Churchill, actors James Stewart, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, and...
- 2021 / 5 / 80129 – More Of The Most Common Articulation Alterations0129 – More Of The Most Common Articulation Alterations Distortions – either in vowels or consonants, sometimes down to a regional accentOmissions (or deletions) – when certain sounds are not...
- 2021 / 5 / 70128 – Some Of The Most Common Articulation Alterations0128 – Some Of The Most Common Articulation Alterations Here then, are some of the most common ‘sound-alterations’ to ‘standard English’ articulation. Substitutions - Swapping sounds (or, when...
- 2021 / 5 / 60127 – The US Waitress Who Didn’t Understand My UK Accent0127 – The US Waitress Who Didn’t Understand My UK Accent VOICE BOXIt is well acknowledged that we often adapt our diction or pronunciation to fit in with those around us. If you’ve ever spent time in...
- 2021 / 5 / 50126 – Don’t Be A Dick With Your Diction0126 – Don’t Be A Dick With Your Diction DICTIONIf ‘articulation’ is the process of moving the jaw, tongue, lips and palate to produce different sounds, ‘diction’ is the use of those different ‘packets...
- 2021 / 5 / 40125 – Ten More Great Accent Tips0125 – Ten More Great Accent Tips Some other accent tips· Vocal fillers of other languages may also be important...
- 2021 / 5 / 30124 – Accents Are Not Just How A Word Sounds0124 – Accents Are Not Just How A Word Sounds Accents are not just how the words soundAll accents have a character. Think of a soft projection of highland Scottish, a harsher New-Yorker, the slow...
- 2021 / 5 / 20123 – How A Rat Can Help You Learn A New Accent0123 – How A Rat Can Help You Learn A New Accent Unsurprisingly, you can learn other accents via mimicry: simply listening and accurately repeating how a native speaker speaks, including the subtle...
- 2021 / 5 / 10122 – How Different Languages Have Different Pitches0122 – How Different Languages Have Different Pitches VOICE BOXLanguage experts[1] say that our speech is made up of a huge number of frequencies – base tones and overtones. It’s claimed that...
- 2021 / 4 / 300121 – Learning Accents0121 – Learning AccentsLearning accentsWe looked at vowels and consonants earlier and how they are formed, and it’s true to say that accents are usually down to how you sound the vowels. Yes, consonants are...
- 2021 / 4 / 290120 – Speaking’s Most Important Body Part0120 – Speaking’s Most Important Body PartWhat is the most important part of the human body when it comes to speaking? Arguably the ears: we need to be able to hear sounds and process them before we can...
- 2021 / 4 / 280119 – The ‘Global Accent’0119 – The ‘Global Accent’A global accentWith around 2 billion speakers (either as a first or second language), English is the most understood language in the world. Spread by traders, invaders and...
- 2021 / 4 / 270118 – How Advertisers Use Accents To Sell Us Stuff0118 – How Advertisers Use Accents To Sell Us Stuff VOICE BOXMarketers know exactly how to manipulate our feeling towards different accents. Call-centre switchboards are so sophisticated that they often...
- 2021 / 4 / 260117 – Voice Morphing0117 – Voice Morphing Voice morphingThere’s is nothing wrong in having two or more speaking styles: a ‘personal voice’ and a ‘professional voice’. Linguists refer to ‘style shifting’: a kind of chameleon...
- 2021 / 4 / 250116 – The Story Of Bailey And The Beach0116 – The Story Of Bailey And The BeachBailey was brought up in New Zealand and so spoke English with that fantastic accent. She was a great newsreader and applied for a job at a radio station in the...
- 2021 / 4 / 240115 – How An Accent May Make Or Break Your Career0115 – How An Accent May Make Or Break Your CareerIf you are working for a regional radio or tv station then having a pronounced accent from outside that area may cause you problems, particularly if it’s from...
- 2021 / 4 / 230114 – The Accent That Killed0114 – The Accent That KilledWhen the Tribe of Gilead defeated the Ephraimites in The Bible, they used accent as a means of identifying surviving Ephraimites trying to escape. People were asked to say...
- 2021 / 4 / 220113 – All About Accents0113 – All About AccentsACCENTSAccents are wonderful things. None of us think we have one, but we all do! They are what helps make us who we are, reflecting our family history, heritage and where we...
- 2021 / 4 / 210112 – Six Tongue Exercises – Including The One You Won’t Be Able To Resist Trying0112 – Six Tongue Exercises – Including The One You Won’t Be Able To Resist TryingVOCAL YOGA - Peter’s PT for the tongueThese exercises stretch your tongue, releasing tongue root tension to give you a more...
- 2021 / 4 / 200111 - Face Yoga0111 - Face YogaVOCAL YOGA - Peter’s PT for the facePull a face! - Make an exaggerated expression and then release, and express again. The Lion – a scary face, baring your teeth and angry eyesThe Clown – full...
- 2021 / 4 / 190110 – Getting’ Lippy With It! Pucker Up For Some ‘Lip PT’0110 – Getting’ Lippy With It! Pucker Up For Some ‘Lip PT’VOCAL YOGA - Peter’s PT for the lips· Humming – yes something as easy and straightforward as this can...
- 2021 / 4 / 180109 – Morgan Freeman’s Favourite Voice Exercise0109 – Morgan Freeman’s Favourite Voice Exercise VOCAL YOGA - Peter’s PT for your throat· Here’s how to reduce tension in the back of your mouth and throat, and...
- 2021 / 4 / 170108 – Tension-Busting Jaw Exercises0108 – Tension-Busting Jaw Exercises VOCAL YOGA – Peter’s PT for the jaw· Beware of clenched teeth which may be a sign of stress. The most relaxed position...
- 2021 / 4 / 160107 – The 1941 ‘Radio Announcer’s Test’ To Help With Speaking Skills0107 – The 1941 ‘Radio Announcer’s Test’ To Help With Speaking Skills The Radio Announcers Test[1]This was created by Radio Central New York in 1941 to test new announcers’ speaking skills. It covers a...
- 2021 / 4 / 150106 – Our Amazing and Unique Alphabetised Exaggerated Articulation Exercises0106 – Our Amazing and Unique Alphabetised Exaggerated Articulation ExercisesVOCAL YOGA – Peter’s PT for ArticulationTraditional tongue twisters are great to warm up your mouth and to help increase your...
- 2021 / 4 / 140105 – Mouth Clicks And Audio Processing0105 – Mouth Clicks And Audio ProcessingMouth clicks and audio processing What is audio processing? After sound is recorded it often goes through a professionally post-production process. This obviously...
- 2021 / 4 / 130104 – Cutting Mouth Clicks By Balancing Proximity, Projection And Levels0104 – Cutting Mouth Clicks By Balancing Proximity, Projection And Levels So the closer you are to the mic when you speak, the softer your voice will be and the input level on that mic channel will be...
- 2021 / 4 / 120103 – Mouth Clicks And Mic Technique0103 – Mouth Clicks And Mic TechniqueMouth clicks and mic techniqueWhatever the cause, being too close to the microphone will certainly accentuate clicks. It stands to reason, if someone whispers in your ear...
- 2021 / 4 / 110102 – Kissing When Speaking: The ‘Lip Smack’ Sound0102 – Kissing When Speaking: The ‘Lip Smack’ SoundSubconcious vocalisationFinally (although you may be able to think of some more), distracting and unnecessary non-verbal sounds may be the subconscious...
- 2021 / 4 / 100101 – Two More Reasons Our Mouth Clicks And Pops0101 – Two More Reasons Our Mouth Clicks And PopsMouth-shape pops and clicksWe are of course all made slightly differently, and there’s a million varieties in the shape, size and position of all our ‘bits to...
- 2021 / 4 / 90100 – Clicks From Your Jaw0100 – Clicks From Your JawTension clicksSo far, we have talked about the mouth and throat, but there may also be clicks from tension caused in your jaw. Inevitably, physical and psychological relaxation...
- 2021 / 4 / 80099 – The ‘Glottal Choke’ Mouth Noise0099 – The ‘Glottal Choke’ Mouth NoiseNervous glottal chokeThis is nervous tension at the back of the throat which stops you speaking naturally and you can simply stop mid-way through a word, often on a...
- 2021 / 4 / 70098 – Sidebar on Saliva: What Actually Is It?0098 – Sidebar on Saliva: What Actually Is It? The mouth has saliva – 99 percent water and a variety of electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and phosphates. We make...
- 2021 / 4 / 60097 – ‘Wet Mouth’ Sounds: Causes and Solutions0097 – ‘Wet Mouth’ Sounds: Causes and Solutions ‘Too much hydration’ related mouth smacks – caused by over-salivatingIt’s odd that our old ‘foe’ tension can cause too little or too much saliva to be...
- 2021 / 4 / 50096 – Why You Should Take ‘Dry Mouth’ Super Seriously0096 – Why You Should Take ‘Dry Mouth’ Super Seriously A dry mouth may actually be caused by xerostomia, when the glands in your mouth simply don't make enough saliva. This could be because of:...
- 2021 / 4 / 40095 – Stopping Hydration-Related Mouth Clicks In The Studio0095 – Stopping Hydration-Related Mouth Clicks In The StudioDuring the recording:· Don’t guzzle lots of...
- 2021 / 4 / 30094 – How To Stop Hydration-Related Mouth Clicks From Happening0094 – How To Stop Hydration-Related Mouth Clicks From HappeningReducing hydration-related mouth clicks and smacks Leave the scary mouth noises to the monsters you may be animating, by doing as many of these...
- 2021 / 4 / 20093 – Hydration-related Mouth Clicks0093 – Hydration-related Mouth Clicks1. Hydration-related mouth clicksWe’ve all been in a situation in a studio, where we’ve needed some water for vocal lubrication. Indeed,...
- 2021 / 4 / 10092 – The Seven Kinds Of Extra Weird Mouth Noises0092 – The Seven Kinds Of Extra Weird Mouth NoisesMOUTH NOISESThese are the pops, clicks and smacks that can be heard as someone speaks. They may be amplified by a microphone and audio processing[1] to...
- 2021 / 3 / 310091 – Relaxing Your Mouth0091 – Relaxing Your Mouth For your articulators to work properly you must have a relaxed mouth to allow your tongue and soft palate to move freely. Try saying some of the words above through clenched-teeth!...
- 2021 / 3 / 300090 - Relaxing Your Tongue0090 - Relaxing Your Tongue Of course, there’s more to your tongue than meets the eye – literally. It is longer and has a deeper root than you may imagine and indirectly connects (via the hyoid bone) to your...
- 2021 / 3 / 300089 – The ‘Wood Man’ SoundBilabial sounds are made with both lipsWoodManBabySpy From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO VOICE is a short, daily...
- 2021 / 3 / 280088 – The ‘Every Fall’ SoundLabiodentals are consonants articulated with the lower lip and the upper teeth.EVeryFall From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart...
- 2021 / 3 / 280087 – A ‘Thought Breath’Interdental consonants are produced by placing the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower front teethBreatheThought From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart...
- 2021 / 3 / 270086 – ‘Top Dad’ But ‘Sad Zebra’Alveolar consonants are made with the tip of tongue TopDadSadZebraButterNopeLightFrom BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO VOICE is a short,...
- 2021 / 3 / 260085 – ‘Should Asia Read?’Post-alveolar sounds are articulated with the tongue near or touching the back of the throat.ReadShouldAsia From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER...
- 2021 / 3 / 250084 – The ‘Yes’ SoundPalatal is the name given to sounds that come when the body of the tongue is raised against the hard palate (the middle part of the roof of the mouth). Yes From BBC presentation trainer...
- 2021 / 3 / 240083 – Cats Go SingingVelar sounds are created with the back part of the tongue (the dorsum) against the soft palate, the back part of the roof of the mouth (known also as the velum).CatGoSingFrom BBC presentation...
- 2021 / 3 / 230082 – The Uh-oh SoundI am fascinated by this area of phonetics!, so let’s take a look how different English-language word-sounds are formed and by what (sometimes very small) change in what articulators:Glottal sounds are made by...
- 2021 / 3 / 220081 – Articulatory Differences in Language And AccentsNot every language makes use of all the potential articulators. You may know people personally or maybe a celebrity whose first language is not English and who perhaps has difficulty pronouncing the letter...
- 2021 / 3 / 210080 – Verbal GymnasticsSo, different sounds of speech are formed in different ways as the articulators do verbal gymnastics inside your mouth. Now say the phrase “My to-do list: quickly send that dog a letter”. And now...
- 2021 / 3 / 200079 – The Elvis MuscleThe muscle with the longest name of any in the human body is right here connecting with the lips. It’s the levator labii superiosis alaeque nasai and its main job is to open the nostrils and move the upper...
- 2021 / 3 / 190078 - When It Comes To The Crunch, The Word ‘Crisp’ Is A Great Articulatory ExampleSay the word “crisp”. Easily huh? But it’s actually made up five letters, and five distinct sounds, which are each formed in a distinct way. So, now say “crisp” really slowly and deliberately, sounding out...
- 2021 / 3 / 180077 – Why Your Tongue Is So Important In ArticulationThe tongue is not one muscle but eight. They run in all three directions: from front to back, from the sides to the middle and from top to bottom. Parrots’ thick tongues help them imitate human language...
- 2021 / 3 / 170076 – Your Multi-Function Mouth MuscleAlthough the teeth, lips and tongue work hard in synchronicity to convert sound in to words, the part played by the tongue is generally unsung. The mouth’s multi-function muscle is an Inspector Gadget of the...
- 2021 / 3 / 160075 – The Final Articulator Is Right Under Your Nose!The final articulator is right under your nose! The lips – mainly channel sound in its final moments before being heard by the world, whether it’s the soft breeze of a ‘fooo’, ‘wooo’, the caress of an...
- 2021 / 3 / 150074 – The Articulatory Gymnastics Of Your TongueAltering the shape and position of the tongue allows us to create sounds which we form in to words. We will see later in this chapter how the tongue twists and curls, arches and relaxes, and teases the teeth...
- 2021 / 3 / 140073 – Weird Facts About Your TongueThe strongest muscle in the human body based on its weight, are the jaw muscles (‘masseters’). They can close the teeth with a force as great as 55 pounds (25 kilograms) on the incisors or 200 pounds (90.7...
- 2021 / 3 / 130072 – How The Slightest Change Affects How Your Voice SoundsYou can of course, alter the shape of your oral cavity and its furniture (tongue and lips), and every alteration will change the kind of sound that you make. In fact, even a slight, temporary cosmetic change...
- 2021 / 3 / 120071 – How We Create Recognisable LanguageThe shape of your mouth and the position of the tongue in relation to the teeth and lips, determine each sound that we translate into recognisable language. Sounds from the larynx will just remain...
- 2021 / 3 / 110070 – The Tip Of The Tongue And The Teeth And The LipsSpeaking requires a complicated combination of ‘articulatory gymnastics’ to create what, on screen or paper, seems a simple sentence. After our brain processes the hieroglyphic word-forms, we...
- 2021 / 3 / 100069 - Giving Your Larynx A ‘Wake-Up Workout’Scrunch your shoulders, stretch and yawn. The latter warms up the throat, particularly important for breakfast newsreaders whose first words uttered that day may be on air! Do not let that be the case with...
- 2021 / 3 / 90068 - How To Discover If You're A 'Nasal Whiner'· Here’s how to check if you are a ‘nasal whiner’. Lightly pinch your nose at the bridge (the top bony part) and say “Sing a song of sixpence”. When you...
- 2021 / 3 / 80067 - How To Reduce Neck Tension To Help Your VoiceTo reduce tension in your neck, carefully drop your head to your left shoulder and hold it there for a few seconds, then bring it back carefully to its normal, central position and hold it, before dropping to...
- 2021 / 3 / 70066 – Society's Attitudes To High and Low Pitched VoicesSociety seems to usually want a tone that is of a lower rather than a higher register. It is claimed that they are “easier to listen to” and “carry more authority” but there seems little scientific evidence...
- 2021 / 3 / 60065 - Pitch PerfectYour pitch, or register, is your ‘vocal frequency’, basically how high or low your voice is. This is affected mainly by the body you inhabit, mainly your vocal folds but also links with your frame and...
- 2021 / 3 / 50064 - Hypernasal and Hyponasal Velopharyngeal Dysfunctions.Hypernasal speech is the classic ‘nasal voice’ when more air is expelled through your nose as you speak, causing additional resonance.The similarly named hyponasal speech or ‘denasality’ is when there’s...
- 2021 / 3 / 40063 - Here's What We Knows About The NoseMost people have no idea that much of their sound is affected by their nasal cavity. If you want to check out the effect it has on your tone, close your mouth, say a long ‘nnnnnnn’ sound and gently hold...
- 2021 / 3 / 30062 - How 'Sounded-Air' Through Your Nose Affects Your VoiceBreathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. You feel the movement that happens at the back of your throat? That’s the velum swishing open and closed to divert air in through one hole (OK, two!)...
- 2021 / 3 / 20061 - Use Your Soft Palate To Kick The CanIf you put your tongue-tip just behind your top teeth and trace it back along the roof of your mouth for an inch or two, you will feel your hard palate the ‘roof of your mouth’. A little bit further back...
- 2021 / 3 / 10060 - Be An Experimenter With Your ResonatorsWe can help the ‘resonator areas’ (the nasal cavity and oral cavity) to work to their full potential as the sound waves enter (or try to enter) them. And today we'll run a few experiments to hear the...
- 2021 / 2 / 280059 - Making Tweaks To Your 'Voice Recipe'One of my favourite Bolognese recipes[1] includes garlic, rosemary, basil and bay leaves. Each one of them adds to the overall flavour. In an orchestra, each instrument adds a quality to the complete sound....
- 2021 / 2 / 270058 - So What is Timbre (And Mucus!)?The vocal tract produces lubricatory mucus - 97% water and 3% mucins, non-mucin proteins, salts, lipids, and cellular debris. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4048736/ From BBC...
- 2021 / 2 / 260057 - So What Is 'Tone'?THE VOCAL LISTYour physique plays a large part in shaping our voice. These include:· Your overall frame – often larger people have more resonant...
- 2021 / 2 / 250056 - So What Is Speech?If ‘voice’ is the sound we make, then ‘speech’ is manipulation of those sounds by our mouth, tongue and lips to create understandable words. If a listener has to work hard to ‘decode’ your message and...
- 2021 / 2 / 240055 - Off With Their Head!At this point in the process, you have sound but no actual voice. From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO VOICE is a short, daily guide to...
- 2021 / 2 / 230054 - Use It WellIt’s interesting to note that you don’t need a lot of breath for a good voice, just to use it well. From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND...
- 2021 / 2 / 220053 - What Happens When You ShoutThe folds collide harder when you make a louder sound such as projecting, shouting or singing, and they collide more often the higher your pitch whether speaking or singing.From BBC presentation trainer Peter...
- 2021 / 2 / 210052 - Party BalloonsYou’ll get an idea of what’s happening in your larynx as you speak if you imagine holding the neck of a blown-up party balloon and letting the air out bit by bit: different sounds are made as you release your...
- 2021 / 2 / 200051 - The Guy Who Fractured His Throat!More on these stories here: https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/lions-frank-ragnow-fractured-throat-injury and ...
- 2021 / 2 / 190050 - Your Speaking PipeSome of the cartilage of the larynx creates the bump on the front of the throat, commonly known as the ‘Adam’s Apple’, behind which are, stretched across the trachea, membranes or tissues known commonly as...
- 2021 / 2 / 180049 - Factoid: Smell and SwallowHumans used to be able to smell and swallow at the same time… and even though we lost that ability, we kept another very useful one, which is centred on our throats.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart...
- 2021 / 2 / 170048 - A Focus on PhonationYou may have used the phrase “it’s gone down the wrong way” when you choke while eating, probably as a result of talking with your mouth full! It’s the epiglottis, a flap in the throat that normally diverts...
- 2021 / 2 / 160047 - How A Paper Straw Can Help You Be A Better BreatherBreathing in and out through a paper straw in your mouth will force you to concentrate on your breathing.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND...
- 2021 / 2 / 150046 - Vocal Yoga - Take The HissInhale until you are comfortably full, then slowly exhale with a long ‘ssssss’. Then repeat, increasing the time you’re inhaling and hissing, aiming to go longer with each hiss until you find yourself...
- 2021 / 2 / 140045 - Vocal Yoga For Breath ControlDo you run out of breath or feel your voice doesn’t have enough support? These exercises will help you get air in, extend your breath for a consistent, confident sound and so support your voice to the end of...
- 2021 / 2 / 130044 - Cleaning While BreathingWhen we exhale, we are not exhaling all of what we have just inhaled: some stays in the lungs. So some people believe it’s a good idea to cleanse lungs of that ‘stale’ air and in so doing, energise the...
- 2021 / 2 / 120043 - This Could Be The Best Sport For Voice PerformersAs we have seen you have to be comfortable in letting sufficient air drop in to your lungs after one sentence, so it can power the next. From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET...
- 2021 / 2 / 110042 - How Breath Control Will Help You Breathe Less Often And Less ObviouslyBreath control will… give the ability to breath less often, and less noticeably, so you can time your breaths to coincide with the natural breaks in your speech.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart...
- 2021 / 2 / 100041 - Get A More Relaxed SoundY’know breathing is a reflex, the most natural thing in the world. But panic, such as a new situation or studio, a big story, the number of viewers … stops us breathing naturally.From BBC presentation trainer...
- 2021 / 2 / 90040 - How Breath Control Will Help You Get A Stronger VoiceBreath control will… give you a voice that’s stronger and more confident, rather than thin and breathy.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO...
- 2021 / 2 / 80039 - A ‘Belly-Breathing Bonus’!If your voice has more support it will have more ‘expressive agility’ to make your message more engaging.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND...
- 2021 / 2 / 70038 - Vocal FryUsing vocal fry (sometimes referred to as ‘scraping the barrel of the voice’) reducing your ability to project and have colour, and using it for too long will cause your voice to tire. From BBC...
- 2021 / 2 / 60037 - Breath Control For BroadcastersThe slow relaxation of the diaphragm controls your airflow in a measured and consistent way. Such breath control will:· Give you more ‘vocal fuel’ for longer...
- 2021 / 2 / 50036 - Breath Control - IntroductionIf you practice ‘fast-snatch, fast-release’, it can lead to gabbled sentences and a garbled meaning, and so we need to be able to control the air as we exhale it.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart...
- 2021 / 2 / 40035 - How To Know If You’re An Abdominal Or Clavicular BreatherSit up straight and place a hand on your abdomen and the other in the centre of your chest. Then breathe in deeply and you should find the abdomen rises and then the chest expands and then on the exhale the...
- 2021 / 2 / 30034 - How Diaphragmatic Breathing Will Work WondersDiaphragmatic breathing:· Relaxes the larynx which means you can speak for longer without getting hoarse· Brings...
- 2021 / 2 / 20033 - Breathing Out Is Like Pushing Air From A LiloThe air comes into the body ideally through the mouth or ideally the nostrils. It is natural to breathe through your mouth when presenting or in general conversation, as it is faster, but air breathed in...
- 2021 / 2 / 10032 - How To Breathe ProperlyIt’s easy! Even a baby could do it. In fact, they do, and so did we all until many of us ‘unlearnt’ it!From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO...
- 2021 / 1 / 310031 - How To Breathe *Badly*!It’s the military-type ‘stomach in, chest out’ way of breathing that makes the shoulders rise … and creates a pain in the neck, literally. From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart),...
- 2021 / 1 / 300030 - Why Breathing Is The Key Thing‘Breathing for broadcasters’ – how to do it properly; what ‘breath control’ is and how it will help you on air; how to cut down on ‘breath-snatches’; the various ways breath can help your voice sound richer...
- 2021 / 1 / 290029 - How To Perfect Your PostureHere’s how to perfect your posture.Have your feet shoulder-width apart and in line with your hips. Rock slightly on your soles so you feel a good balance between pressure on your toes and your heels. Your...
- 2021 / 1 / 280028 - Make A Stand For A Good VoiceBetter breathing leads to less tension and more confidence, which is often the boost you need to get through your on-air miles.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER...
- 2021 / 1 / 270027 - Reading Off ScreenWhen you are sitting, your guts, stomach (and your large lunch) are displaced, and pushed into the dome of the diaphragm, restricting its ability to work properly. Standing allows things to settle back into a...
- 2021 / 1 / 260026 - A Quick Shout Out To ProjectionWith radio and TV we are speaking to people we can’t see and yet they are sometimes many hundreds of miles away. To our prehistoric brain this doesn’t make sense. From BBC presentation trainer Peter...
- 2021 / 1 / 250025 - Sitting For a Video PresentationSitting close to someone else with that person’s ear maybe two feet away, they may not project their voice quite as much as a sound engineer would like.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart...
- 2021 / 1 / 240024 - The Confidence Shot From Your ChairThe chair you are sitting on can give you a ‘confidence shot’, or a ‘confidence shock’.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO VOICE is a...
- 2021 / 1 / 230023 - Sidebar: The CoccyxThe coccyx is commonly referred to as the tailbone, is at the bottom of your spine, and is the remnant of the tail that our ancestors had several million years ago. Indeed, other mammals have a similar bone...
- 2021 / 1 / 220022 - De-stress To Sound Your BestConsider that altering the settings on your chair is a little like altering the ‘settings’ in your physical stance or sitting position. A notch or two changes the backrest, a turn of the wheel to alter the...
- 2021 / 1 / 210021 - Get Air-Care From Your ChairMost presenting roles happen from a seated position. And you can get a lot of help with sitting and therefore breathing by having an ergonomically adjustable chair. Every model is slightly different, and they...
- 2021 / 1 / 200020 - How Mental Pressure Can Affect Your VoiceAir comes from breathing depends on breathing and muscle control, muscles which are almost always holding your hold body in a state of ‘relaxed tension’. Mental pressures are soon shown as ‘bad’ physical...
- 2021 / 1 / 190019 - The 'Back Against The Wall' ExerciseAn exercise I have used with clients is to:· Have your back against the wall…· with shoulders and buttocks...
- 2021 / 1 / 180018 - Is Your Spine Fine?Your spine affects your breathing – and you’re probably already starting to see now how all of your body is interconnected in helping you produce a good voice.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart...
- 2021 / 1 / 170017 - ScreamingHumans known how to breath instinctively, it’s a natural responsive thing to do. Individually since our first few seconds on Planet Earth we have filled our lungs and screamed!But now we’ve got to unlearn all...
- 2021 / 1 / 160016 - Proper PostureYour voice is powered by air. And a good voice is supported by ‘good’ breathing and muscle control.To speak effectively, you use your entire body, not just your ‘voice box’.From BBC presentation trainer Peter...
- 2021 / 1 / 150015 - You've Been Doing It All Your LifeAfter breathing, there follows a hugely complex system of linguistic gymnastics involving your vocal cords, tongue, teeth, and palates to form sounds as directed by your brain’s ‘memory bank’ of ‘what sounds...
- 2021 / 1 / 140014 - A Basic Understanding Of the Mechanics Of Voice“Human beings live in what is probably the most sophisticated, complex living organism that’s ever walked on the face of the earth. What we can do with our system, or mind, our voice, the sounds we can make,...
- 2021 / 1 / 130013 - Use Your PhoneYou may need an audio or video recording app on your phone, and probably an empty house! A word of warning: if you have not heard your ‘recorded self’ before you may be in for a surprise. That’s because we...
- 2021 / 1 / 120012 - Train Like UsainProfessional athletes like Usain know that a good warm-up can make a significant difference in terms of both injury prevention and running efficiency. From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart...
- 2021 / 1 / 110011 - The ExercisesIt takes time to get out of a rut and plough a new furrow. You need to identify the muscles and develop them. From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST,...
- 2021 / 1 / 100010 - What’s in the Book 2If you have some natural talent, and a persevering personality, then this book gives you the plan to develop your best voice and to use it on-air.Understand the voice and how it is created, ‘from lungs to...
- 2021 / 1 / 90009 - Who I AmI have ‘been there and done’ audio and video presentations for decades.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO VOICE is a short, daily guide to...
- 2021 / 1 / 80008 - “Every Fourth Word”In this podcast series, I’ll explain why the “every fourth one” advice is wrong, and instead show you which words should be lifted and subdued. From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart...
- 2021 / 1 / 70007 - What’s in the BookYou’ll go from just talking to actually communicating. From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO VOICE is a short, daily guide to help you...
- 2021 / 1 / 60006 - How Nerves Affect The VoiceWhen we come to present a podcast or YouTube video, or step into a studio or onto a stage, what happens? From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND...
- 2021 / 1 / 10005 - What is a ‘Good Voice’?A ‘good voice’ is one that communicates to us, one that shows some personality of the owner. From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO VOICE...
- 2021 / 1 / 10004 - There is Nothing Quite Like the Human Voice“The voice is a sound caused by the soul, by means of the repercussions of the air made in the throat with the intention of signifying something.”Aristotle, 385-322 BCFrom BBC presentation trainer Peter...
- 2021 / 1 / 10003 - The PrefaceYou’ve invested in your look of choice, now invest in your voice.From BBC presentation trainer Peter Stewart (@TweeterStewart), GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VIDEO VOICE is a short, daily guide to help...
- 2021 / 1 / 10002 - Charles Darwin on the Human Voice“With many kinds of animals, man included, the vocal organs are efficient in the highest degree as a means of expression…The character of the human voice… alters much under different conditions, in loudness...
- 2021 / 1 / 10001 - My New Book as a Daily Podcast“With many kinds of animals, man included, the vocal organs are efficient in the highest degree as a means of expression…The character of the human voice… alters much under different conditions, in loudness...
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