Whether you just want to improve the sound of your voice in general or perfect it for a theatrical performance or a singing performance, there are a number of steps you can take. Perform various exercises to improve the quality of your voice, adjust the sound when you speak to sound more confident, or sing better to have more vocal power. Exercise regularly and make a few small adjustments. You will soon notice a significant improvement.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Practice your voice to optimize its quality
Step 1. Breathe through the diaphragm
It is imperative to breathe this way when speaking or singing when doing theater or singing. The diaphragm is the part just below the breastbone (the point where the front ribs meet). If you fill this area with air and use it for singing, your voice will be more powerful. Breathing through the diaphragm and not through the chest will also reduce the strain on your vocal cords.
- To breathe in this way, inhale while sending the air into your belly. You should feel it swell up as you breathe in. Slowly release the air while hissing like a snake. Try to keep your shoulders and neck relaxed as you breathe.
- You can also put your hands on your stomach when you breathe in. If they lift up when inhaling, it means you are breathing with your stomach.
Step 2. Release your jaw
It is important to release it from any tension so that you can open your mouth more when speaking or singing, which can make your voice clearer. To relax your lower jaw, position the base of your palms at the top of the sides of it and push against your cheeks. Slide them towards your chin then start again from the starting point so as to massage your muscles.
Let your mouth open gently as you slide your hands down
Step 3. Breathe through a straw
Work on your accuracy at the same time. You can improve your singing voice by working on the notes in your range. Put a straw between your lips and sing the sound "or" on a low note. Hold the sound and slowly work your way up to the treble. Go from the lowest note to the highest note in your range.
- The air that does not pass through the straw will press on your vocal cords.
- This exercise is helpful in reducing the swelling of the vocal cords.
Step 4. Trill your lips
It's a great way to get your voice working and make it sound clearer. Loosely close your mouth and breathe out, pronouncing the sound "eu" so that the air which passes between your lips on exiting makes them vibrate.
The air that remains locked in your mouth will tighten your vocal cords so that they are gently brought together
Step 5. Zoom
It is an effective way to warm up your vocal cords and cool them gently after talking or singing for a long time. Close your mouth and relax your lower jaw. Inhale through your nose and exhale with a humming sound. Start by making the nasal sound "mm". Gradually descend to the bottom of your range.
This exercise vibrates the lips, teeth and bones of the face
Step 6. Stretch your tongue
This will help you articulate your lyrics better, which is essential for actors and actresses. To stretch your tongue, press it against your palate and then pull it out of your mouth. Press it against one cheek and then the other. Put its end behind your lower lip and fold the rest to bring it out of your mouth then fold it back, positioning its end against your palate.
Repeat this exercise by chaining it 10 times
Step 7. Recite tongue twisters
They will help you improve your diction by forcing you to articulate well, which may help you speak more clearly. Tongue twisters also work muscles in the lips, tongue, and face, which can be beneficial for the voice. Be sure to detach each syllable excessively when pronouncing the sentences.
- Start by speaking slowly and gradually increase the rate at which you recite the tongue twisters.
- To work on the “p” sound, choose phrases like this: “Among Papuans there are Papuans papas and Papuans not papas and Papuans with lice and Papuans not with lice. So among the Papuans there are Papuans who are lousy dads and Papuans who are not lousy dads and Papuans not lousy dads and Papuans no lousy dads. "
- To work on the “ch” and “s” sounds, pronounce sentences like the following: “A hunter who knows how to hunt must know how to hunt without his dog. "
- To increase the agility of your tongue, repeat: “Basket, piano, piano, basket. "
Step 8. Release the tension
Say the sound “i-e”. This will help you relax your larynx, which may improve the quality of your singing voice. Try pronouncing the “i” sound and sliding to the “e” sound. You will feel your larynx coming down. This low position will give you better control of your vocal cords and you may be able to sing higher notes more easily after this exercise.
Repeat the warm-up a few times
Step 9. Balance the resonance
Chain the sounds "or", "o", "e" and "a". These different vowel sounds will help you sing with your mouth in various positions. Start with a sound and make the transition from one to the other by chaining "or", "o", "e" and "a" to make your voice work well. This may help you achieve higher notes better or maintain a stable voice while singing.
Perform this exercise several times a day
Step 10. Exercise regularly
Warm up your voice twice a day. To improve its quality when speaking or singing on stage, you need to train it regularly. Warm it up before using it for a long time and perform vocal exercises twice a day for best results.
Try a 15-minute session when you get up or do the exercises while getting ready for work or class. Repeat a session before going to bed. For example, you can perform the exercises while preparing the evening meal or taking a bath
Method 2 of 4: Improve your theater voice
Step 1. Project your voice
When doing theater, it is imperative to speak in a loud and clear voice. When saying your lines, be sure to speak loudly enough that even spectators at the back of the room can easily hear you. For this, it is important to project the sound with your diaphragm instead of shouting. If you scream you will hurt your throat and you may even lose your voice.
Breathe in deeply through the diaphragm and breathe out saying “ha” to help identify this part of your anatomy. You should feel the air coming up from your belly and out through your mouth when you say the sound. Once you have mastered this technique, try to breathe this way when speaking on stage
Step 2. Articulate
It is important to pronounce your lines clearly when performing in a play. Articulate each word well so that the audience can easily understand what you are saying. To make sure that you speak with maximum clarity, open your mouth as wide as possible to help you articulate your lines well.
Step 3. Convey emotions
Use them to add nuance to your lines. They are very important in a theatrical performance. To convey emotions through speech, think about the effect they would have on the character you play.
- For example, if you need to make your character appear sad, you can speak slightly more slowly. You can even showcase this emotion more strongly by speaking in a slightly shaky voice.
- Think about the emotion that accompanies each of your lines to determine what effect your voice should have when you speak.
Method 3 of 4: Improve your spoken voice
Step 1. Analyze your current voice
Talk and record yourself or ask a friend to listen to you and rate your voice. Take volume, pitch, articulation, sound quality, and speed into account to determine what progress you need to make.
- Are you speaking too loudly or too softly?
- Do you have a high-pitched, deep, monotonous or changeable voice?
- Is your voice nasal, full, clear, sucked, monotonous, or enthusiastic?
- Do you speak clearly or do you mince your words?
- Are you speaking too slowly or too quickly? Do you seem confident or hesitant?
Step 2. Adjust the volume
You should always speak loudly enough that everyone in the room can hear you. However, increasing or decreasing the volume of your voice can help emphasize certain elements of your speech and make others more intimate.
- When you are about to say something important, speak louder and louder.
- Reduce the volume to break away from less important information.
Step 3. Modulate the height
If your voice is monotonous, your audience may get bored and stop listening to you. Modulating the pitch will make your voice more interesting and you are more likely to hold the attention of those listening to you. Change the height at which you speak throughout your speech. You can use this technique effectively with tips like the following.
- End the questions at a higher pitch.
- Go down to a more serious tone to end an affirmation.
Step 4. Play to the tempo
It is about the speed at which you speak. By slowing down, you can accentuate certain words and words even more. If you tend to speak quickly, slowing down can also help others understand you better.
Try to take a break after saying something important. The people who will listen to you will thus have time to integrate this information
Step 5. Convey certain emotions
Do it when appropriate. Have you ever heard a person's voice tremble when they feel strong emotions while giving a speech? This technique can be very effective in certain situations, such as when you are giving a speech or performing in a play. Use the timbre of your voice to express strong feelings.
For example, if you are talking about something that makes you sad, you can let your voice shake naturally, but don't try to force it
Step 6. Work on your speech
Before pronouncing it in front of an audience, practice speaking on your own and without restraint or hesitation. Experiment with different tones, tempos, volumes and pitches. Check in and listen to the recording to determine what the positives are and what you need to change.
- Practice several times by changing the way you speak. Record each trial and compare the different versions.
- Many people do not like to listen to their recorded voice. It is less like the one echoing in their head and more like the one others hear.
Step 7. Drink lots of water
When you speak loudly or for a long time, it is important that your vocal cords and throat stay hydrated and lubricated. Avoid dehydrating drinks, such as coffee, alcohol, and soda. Just drink water.
If possible, keep a glass of water next to you when you speak
Method 4 of 4: Improve your singing voice
Step 1. Pronounce the vowels well
Open your mouth wide. Position the index and ring fingers of each hand under your jawbone on one side of your face. Pull your jaw down 2 inches. Hold her in place by singing the "a", "e", "i", "o" and "u" sounds.
- Try inserting a cork or plastic stopper between your back molars to keep your jaw down.
- Continue this exercise so that your muscle memory assumes it. Your jaw will eventually stay in place without you needing to hold it.
Step 2. Keep your chin down
As you go up in the treble, your chin may automatically lift to increase your vocal power. This action can give you more power for a while, but it can also end up negatively impacting your voice. Try to lower your chin while singing.
- Sing ascending scales in front of a mirror. Lower your chin slightly before you begin and keep it down as you move up towards the high notes.
- Keeping your chin down prevents straining your voice while giving you more power and control.
Step 3. Practice vibrato
This effect is beautiful, but can be difficult to produce. However, you can practice the technique to incorporate vibrato into your singing.
- Put your hands on your chest and lift it more than usual.
- Inhale then exhale without letting your chest move.
- As you exhale, sing the sound "a" on a single continuous note. Hold it as long as possible.
- Halfway through your exhale, press down on your chest and imagine the air swirling around your mouth.
Step 4. Identify your range
Use a piano keyboard to find it. Start by playing middle C. This is the white key which is to the left of 2 black keys in the middle of the keyboard. Press all consecutive keys while moving to the left and sing each note played while saying the sound "la." »Go down as low as possible while singing the notes until you feel tension or can't reach a note anymore. Write the lowest note that you can sing easily. It corresponds to the bottom of your range.
Then do the same thing going up until you find the highest note in your range
Step 5. Extend your range
Try to increase it by one note. Once you've identified it, try going down one note down and up one note up until you can sing those new notes easily. You may not be able to sustain them at first, but try singing them 8-10 times per workout until you can reach them without a problem.
- When you are able to sing a new note sustainably for a long time, you can try moving on to the next one to expand your range even more.
- Be patient and don't try to go too fast. It is important to control the sound and to be able to sing each note in a sustained manner.
Q&A from experts
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What should I eat to improve my voice?
Drink plenty of water (at least 1.75l per day) and avoid caffeine, even in tea. Caffeine can strain your vocal cords and make your voice more nasal or make you speak faster. Also avoid acidic products and dairy products, and don't overeat before giving a speech. It would be embarrassing to belch while speaking!
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How can I improve the sound of my voice?
If you have a hoarse voice, drink lukewarm water containing honey, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar. Avoid foods and drinks that can tighten your vocal cords and cause acid reflux, as they can dry out your vocal tract.
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Is it possible to increase my range?
Yes. You can do different exercises to increase it. Stand up straight and bend your knees to go up and down. As your shoulders move up and down, open your mouth and try to extend your range while singing. You can also try taking different voices. Try to speak in a high-pitched voice like a baby and then adopt a deep voice like a cartoon villain.