By Ingrid Sorin Girion
Transformational Vocal Coach

As an actor, and particularly a voice actor, it’s important to get the most out of your vocal potential.

Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked as a transformational vocal coach helping actors and other business professionals connect to the power of their uninhibited voices to get the most out of their vocal potential.

Here are 6 Essential Keys to help you experience the magic that your instrument has to offer.

1. BREATHING IS EVERYTHING! 

We are wind instruments.

The first mistake that people make is to do “chest breathing.” They raise their chest when they inhale, and then, in fact, they forget to exhale. Your exhalation is where your relaxation is.

You can also practice deep abdominal yoga breathing.

Most of us tend to hold our stomachs in to “look good.” Use the imagery of filling up your abdomen with air like a balloon (push it out), then when you exhale, use your finger tips to push in your stomach as you push out the air.

Practice breathing in and out quickly. This will energize and relax your body.

Alternately, you can run in place, touch your toes, or dance freely as a child would.

STRENGTHEN YOUR VOICE

Being in good physical shape can really help with your vocal stamina. It takes energy to use your voice correctly.

You especially need a lot of stamina if you read audio books.

A great way to strengthen your voice is to add more air.

As an example, try this exercise: practice saying “HAH” to begin each sentence. You want a free flow of air.

For instance, you would say “HAH-begin” or if the word begins with a vowel, “HAH-actually” becomes “HActually.”

Reminder: This is an exercise, not how you will speak in front of people.

Practicing this way of adding air will give you more vocal endurance and prevent vocal fatigue.

2. RELEASE TENSION! 

A lot of us tend to hold tension in our necks, and that can mess with your air-flow!

You can release your neck by gently shake your head “no.”

Another common spot for holding tension is the back of your knees. You can bring your attention there by just bending them.

Regular exercise is highly recommended.

3. KNOW YOUR VOICE

Being aware of your instrument is essential.

How low can you go?… How high can you go?

Knowing this gives you more options. More possibility to add more notes, more musicality to your character.

NO FRYING

A big mistake that people make is that they go down in pitch and volume at the ends of sentences. Even to the point of what we call vocal fry.

This can really make your voice tired, and potentially damage your voice.

When someone speaks this way, it makes it hard to understand the ends of their sentences. They are asking their audience to work too hard to understand what they’ve just said.

4. WORK WITH RHYTHM VARIATION

For starters, SLOW DOWN!

Don’t be afraid to pause. Think of speaking to a child or a friend. Make sure they understand you.

5. OPEN YOUR MOUTH!

Another great technique to achieve a rich, resonant tone is to practice the exaggerated open vowel position.

Open your mouth, and let the tongue rest gently on the lower lip. Then recite the open vowels: HAH, HEH, HIH, HO, HOO

For extra credit, you can go through the entire alphabet:

EX: BAH, BEH, BIH, BO, BOO
DAH, DEH, DIH, DOH, DOO…etc

Articulate each consonant, then get your tongue on your lower lip for the vowel.

Consonant articulation can really help you in an angry scene. Instead of yelling, you can save your voice emphasizing the consonant.

And lingering on a vowel can help to emphasize that word to create a different mood.

These techniquescan really help with your acting.

6. YOUR MINDSET…

…is really important!

What messages are we giving to ourselves? What you are thinking, and how you feel is felt by your listener.

Connect to the emotion and importance of what you’re saying – who you’re talking to, and why.

And most important, HAVE FUN!

____________________

I was honored to have my article featured in VoiceOverXtra. 

Big thanks to John Florian!

– Ingrid