We all know that listening skills are important. Some of us believe ourselves to BE good listeners. Still, you can find yourself wondering about details that were definitely discussed in a meeting or on the speaking side, you notice a…
It seems the more I chase dynamic alignment for voice, the more I end up working on my feet. Case in point, I am working on a singing project that has specific technical challenges. I have been finding that my…
Our voices can be a bit sticky in the morning. Personally, I awake closer to a baritone than a mezzo and those are the good days. Somedays, the voice just feels scratchy or sounds rough. That first glass of water…
This week the Merriam Webster dictionary added a meaning for the pronoun "they." They added --used to refer to a single person whose gender identity is nonbinary-- This was pretty big news. Sadly in came just a day after the AP had…
I volunteer with an organization that has several ways of recognizing people for how they improve the group. There are recognitions for service, knowledge, and even brawn. Some of us call them cookies. These recognitions are lovely but inevitably it…
Of all the skills that we need in order to improve our voices, the ability to hear ourselves accurately is the most elusive. It's not that there is an issue with our hearing. Our hearing is just not optimized for…
There is a space between you (and your goals) and any group of people that you are trying to engage. Many of us perceive the gap, it is at the heart of the anxiety some feel when voicing in public.…
I know, I know. That hydration is good for the voice (and optimal health) surprises no one. Still, I find many people have no understanding of the best ways to achieve it short of drinking more water. How much water?…
I am in Denver, CO for the National Speakers Association Influence conference. Denver is the Mile High City, literally 5280ft above sea level. Most everyone knows that altitude has physiological effects that impact health. They might even know they should…
There is a concept in the theatre of cheating outward. Of making certain, sometimes subtly, that your mouth and the direction of your voice is pointed towards the audience. Sound waves must travel in a medium, in this case, air.…