Am I talking too much?

Have you ever noticed that sometimes people sound completely different when they sing and speak? It’s because people get used to used-to a certain pitch level when they talk. This pitch and placement becomes routine or habitual and if the pitch is too high or too low can mean the voice is being misused. As in my classes we talk about voice quality and how it is affected by pitch and tone focus or placement. A voice that is being used improperly may have one or more of these qualities: nasal, thin, weak, breathy, hoarse or scratchy, or squeaky. I have had a few questions lately regarding talking and how and
why it can be so damaging to the voice. In reality how you talk, how much and how loud you talk can definitely affect your singing voice. So lets take a look at some techniques and exercises you can do to help your speaking and singing voice.

Take heart, if you have some of these challenges going on in your voice, by learning good breath support techniques and correct tone focus or placement of the voice, these problems can be successfully avoided and in many cases, reversed. If you are experiencing severe vocal abnormalities, you should visit an ENT to get an accurate understanding of exactly what damage has potentially been done, and what your vocal teacher needs to know in order to help you and your doctor rehabilitate your voice properly.

I like thinking of the voice in thirds: the bottom, middle, and top thirds of the voice.
The Upper third resonates in the head. Imagine your head just from the nose up. The middle third is around the philtrum, that vertical groove right under your nose above your upper lip, and the front top teeth. This is also where the center of the pitch is located. And the bottom third is around the larynx and even vibrates into the chest cavity.

Good voices should have balanced upper and middle resonance with a natural bottom resonance. Too much top is nasally, too much bottom is guttural or swallowed, and too much mid can be harsh.

Watch also that you are using correct volume. Volume when speaking should be produced at a moderate level, one that is comfortable and doesn’t produce strain.

So how do you find your correct pitch and placement for your voice… everyone is built differently and will have slightly different center pitch… would you like to know… close your lips and say ummm hummm.. as sincerely as you can… feel the vibrations up around the lips and nose… close your lips and say “ummm hummm” one more time… feel it? This should be right in your natural pitch…. Try saying this in response to people through out the day when they ask you questions and feel this placement or tone focus up front in the top two thirds of the voice.

Here’s another technique you can use to help you find your natural voice. While standing, place your finger just under your sternum about where your ribs come together. Now press gently with a quick, short staccato movement and while making a sound with your lips closed. The sound you are producing is your natural voice. Now say “ummm hummm” in that same voice. Keep the pitch and tone focus in the same place.

Now say “ummmm hummm hello” and keep everything in the same place. Do this a few times… now raise your arms over your head and say … “ummmm hummm right” and “ummm hummm hello” then let your arms down for a short rest and repeat this exercise a few more times.

Next say “ummmm hummm one” then “ummm hummm two” and so on till at least 10. Remember to feel the tingling or vibrations on your lips when you say the “ummm humm.”

You may feel as if the pitch is higher than you normally speak, and it may be slightly higher. However, don’t worry… no one will think you are talking like you’ve just inhaled helium….

Creating a pleasant speaking voice is a must for any singer who is going to be doing any talking when they’re on stage… and lets face it… that’s all of us… just some talk more than others… You need to have a vocal tone that projects with out staining the voice or being annoying or inaudible. And you need to find the proper rate of speech for your circumstance. If you talk to fast on stage you run the risk of making your audience nervous or uneasy and if you talk to slowly… you might… run the risk of being a tad bit boring…. Neither is good…

You want to be captivating and engaging while on stage, so develop your natural speaking voice and be both a singer and a speaker that everyone wants to listen to!