topic Re: VOICES in Community Chat

VOICES

LTT1 — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 15:40:55 GMT

I have been thinking about this from time to time.

For a few years, now, I have noticed more about how people are perceived based on their voices.

While teaching, I found that the teachers who were received by teens BEST, had soft, strong, slightly high-pitched voices as opposed to gruff voices.

Do you think people's voices affect how they are received?

Curious as to how many people notice this on TV shows, during seminars, on videos, and in real life (one-on-one conversations)?

Re: VOICES

LilacTree — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 15:47:25 GMT

For anyone in the media, I think voices are more important than looks. A well modulated voice is one I will listen to.

Re: VOICES

Sweetbay magnolia — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 15:53:43 GMT

Absolutely, yes.

My ideal would be to sound like Kathleen Turner in "Body Heat". Perhaps that wouldn't play in the boardroom, though. Perhaps it would(!). For those that have the ability to speak vocally, I attribute many assumptions based on what I hear. I try to speak well and inflect in a situationally appropriate manner.

Re: VOICES

mstyrion 1 — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 15:53:49 GMT

Interesting about the high-pitched voices part . I personally much prefer a lower tone. Always have. Maybe little children like a high-pitched voice because it remnds them of their own voices and is therefore less intimidating.

Re: VOICES

Perkup — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 16:15:42 GMT

Any time something about voices comes up, I have to say this. I'm going to be 81 soon, and my parents have been for about 35 years. For years after they passed, I could still hear their voices in my head, but sadly they are gone now. What I wouldn't give to have a tape or recording with their voices today! I hope that anyone who reads this will try to get the voices of loved ones on tape or disc so that you can always have them with you. I promise you that you'll be so glad you did one day.

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sailor_moon — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 16:32:27 GMT

Nasally and/or monotone voices sound worse than gruff voices.

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Suziepeach — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 16:34:45 GMT

Some of these young women broadcasters voices are like nails over a chalkboard.. scratchy, nasal stuffy and high pitched.. My husband can't turn the tv fast enough..

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MyGirlsMom — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 16:38:47 GMT

Yes, I absolutely do agree peoples voices have a lot to do with how they're received.

Re: VOICES

sfnative — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 16:46:51 GMT

Hi Loves,

Interesting subject. I was never one to admire a teacher with a soft and/or high pitched voice. That would drive me up a wall! A strong, well modulated voice, yes.

I started singing at the age of 4. This developed into a vast vocal experience, solo and in both large and small groups throughout my life until about 6 years ago. As you can imagine, this not only developes ones musculature, but also presentation, be it music or speech. I've been fortunate to also have related "vocal" experiences; e.g. being M.C. for many events.

It wasn't until my DD and I made a mad dash trip to a Carmel, CA, art gallery one early October Saturday to purchase a birthday gift for DH/Dad that a professional assessed my voice - by pure chance. We arrived at the gallery, which specialized in Walt Disney original cells, plus perhaps 12 cells from another studio. One of those other cells was of Felix the Cat, a favorite of my husband. So, we headed right over to where Felix had been hanging the last time we had visited Carmel, hoping that he was still there. There he was! So, I turned around looking for one of the two ladies who usually work the gallery, but found an 80ish gentleman approaching me. He asked us to come over to the desk and have a seat. Long story short, he was the owner of the gallery, having picked up the cells during his many years with the Disney organization as executive head hunter (can't quite recall the term he used) to find vocal talent for all of the Disney movies. After his summary was completed, he asked me what I did with my voice because, he said, he heard a great deal in my voice and would I please tell him about my it. So we talked for 30 minutes or so and I learned a great deal from him. I cherish that day and wish I could have known him years ago.

Re: VOICES

lovinglife — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:01:24 GMT

It does seem that so many voices, many young women are high pitched and have short "listenability". We often comment..."someone has to listen to that voice everyday!".

Coincidental that this converstion comes up...in the last two days I listened to a show on CBC radio about voices. The premise is "A voice can be as identifying as a fingerprint, but is it really that important to who we are? In this episode, we explore the value of the voice, and what is lost when it is gone."

One of the segments was about voicemail. The focus was on saving a voicemail of someone you loved and who has died. My mother had Bulbar Onset ALS which affects among other things speech and in a short time was using a voice assistive device. She had a message in her "real" voice on her voicemail which was saved long after her death. She left a message for me on my voicemail using her assistive device and I saved that until it was destroyed by a glitch with the cellphone company.

It was bittersweet to listen to her saved "voices".

Re: VOICES

lovinglife — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:08:01 GMT

SFNative,

I am from the Midwest and I have been to that gallery in Carmel. That man was one of the most interesting and engaging. We sat with him for hours talking about Disney and the history as I was travelling with a person who loved Walt Disney and could name all the early animators who worked with Walt.

Re: VOICES

LTT1 — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:41:31 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
For anyone in the media, I think voices are more important than looks. A well modulated voice is one I will listen to.

@LilacTree I love the term well modulated! I also think it takes awareness and practice to obtain this for most people.

The teacher who was our Dept. Leader had the most pleasant voice. Even tho she was a more stern disciplinarian than most, the students never doubted her ability to be a good teacher.

Re: VOICES

LTT1 — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:44:10 GMT

@lovinglife

"She left a message for me on my voicemail using her assistive device and I saved that until it was destroyed by a glitch with the cellphone company.

It was bittersweet to listen to her saved "voices"."

What a wonderful idea... I wish I had tried to save messages from my parents! Thanks for sharing.

Re: VOICES

brownponytail80 — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:48:35 GMT

We had a voice thread not too long ago here where people would record their voices and post the recordings for all of us to hear. It was interesting to hear what everyone sounds like!

Re: VOICES

cotton4me — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 19:04:41 GMT

Yes, voice matters.

Unfortunately I have a high-pitched, child-like voice and I can't stand it. I feel like I'm judged unfairly and not taken seriously. It's very embarassing. I contacted a vocal coach about trying to change it but she said I could damage my vocal chords and to leave it alone.

Re: VOICES

MaggieMack — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 19:09:32 GMT

A friend of mine set up a blind date for me last year. The only contact I had with him before meeting him in person was through texts. We had many common interests. When he showed up on my doorstep and introduced himself, all I could hear was my mind screaming No No No No No! He sounded just like Donald Duck and I knew immediately it was a deal killer. One and done, lol! As an aside, when he was alive my husband had a beautiful baritone speaking voice that he learned in broadcasting school. Spoiled I guess.

Re: VOICES

hckynutjohn — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 19:35:31 GMT

Hello lovestoteach

Did you hear the voices of those that posted them awhile back? I thought it was very interesting, so I posted my own. Part of my reason was because occasionally I still get some that doubt my gender.

Yes, I do think ones voice can/does make others more comfortable along with attentive. I know there are some voices there is no way I could listen to for extended periods of time.

Re: VOICES

newziesuzie — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 08:55:15 GMT

Voices matter but I think it's subjective because a voice I have trouble listening to might be one someone else likes.

Re: VOICES

CatsyCline — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 15:48:14 GMT

@MaggieMack wrote:
A friend of mine set up a blind date for me last year. The only contact I had with him before meeting him in person was through texts. We had many common interests. When he showed up on my doorstep and introduced himself, all I could hear was my mind screaming No No No No No! He sounded just like Donald Duck and I knew immediately it was a deal killer. One and done, lol! As an aside, when he was alive my husband had a beautiful baritone speaking voice that he learned in broadcasting school. Spoiled I guess.

sooo true! i used to go on blind dates from dating sites. this was before one could post a pic on a profile.

i had an 800 # calling card my work gave each of us to use as voicemail (before we had cell phones)

i would give the potential "date" that number to call and leave a message with their details and phone #

acckkk the voice was all i needed, if i didnt like the voice, no date. if the guy had a great voice and was also funny and made me laugh, he had me at hello!

Men fall in love with their eyes - women fall in love with their ears....

Re: VOICES

LTT1 — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:06:20 GMT

@CatsyCline Boy are you two ever right! Come to think of it... I met my DH thru a business phone call at work.. when I got off the phone I said "Wow, he sounds hands handsome!" A motherly lady who worked in the same company, leaned out of her office and said down the hallway.. "And is is single too!"

Funny...