Community Chat

[bonnielu]

I will start off that I am not fond of my voice.  I cannot remember names long term but never forget a face or a voice. So you could say I am wondering if voices can be improved so I can sound better.  

In general I like what I hear when I tune in and hear the Hosts. In the case of the vendors sometimes I find their voices pleasing and sometimes not.  This goes for guests on talk shows and news broadcasts as well.  I guess there might be a training factor when they hire for broadcasts or for sales.  Or they just might hire because of a great voice.

I am wondering if there is a way to improve the quality of your voice.  

[Moonchilde]

Google "voice coach" and "speaking lessons." There are definitely voice coaches who work with people to change the way they speak. Most actors work with voice coaches. Small towns might not have any, but mid to large cities would.

Possible to do online/with recordings, but no instant feedback there.

[house_cat]

Great question, bonnielu. I've often wondered myself.  I talk for a living, and sometimes I can't stand what I'm hearing. I've always wanted to take voice lessons.  I know that most people in radio and t.v. have taken lessons. It's not accidental that Carolyn Gracie and David Venable, for instance, have beautiful diction and voice quality.  It can be taught. 

I've noticed the last few years, that there are MANY t.v. voices that offend my ears.  I have to mute certain shows because the hosts voice irritates me.  Case in point, Nancy Fuller from Farmhouse Rules cooking show. The minute I hear her speak it's like fingernails on a chalkboard. I simply cannot listen to her. There are many others, including a few of the QVC hosts.

My theory is that in 'the old days', when there were fewer t.v. shows and fewer hosts, one had to be formally trained to land such a job. Nowadays, there are so many reality shows and amateurs popping out of the woodwork, that we are seeing more average people and let's face it, most of us have voices that could use improvement.

[bonnielu]

I can only hear my voice if I am recorded as in leaving voice messages on my answering phone or if I am part of some video recordingon a camera or cellphone.  Not happy.  (of course I cannot carry a tune either).

I would love to sound better, be more pleasing in tone (and texture).  What is interesting... what I can do... is imitate almost automatically without even thinking.  I cannot tell you how many times people I talk to swear I am from their town or neck of the woods.  Southern gals think I am southern, people from New Jersey think I am from New Jersey.  I seem to fold right in to dialects without even trying.  So I think I can be trained.  

[house_cat]

Yes, I think that's important that you have an ear for it.  My husband's family is from KY, even though he was raised in NY. When we visit them we both come home with the accent. 

I moved to CA almost 15 years ago.  I guess I've picked up the accent, because no one ever asks me if I'm from somewhere else. Dh on the other hand, still sounds like a NYer.  Everywhere we go, people call him out for it, especially Starbucks when he asks for cawfee, lol.

We have a large Mexican community here in Los Angeles, no surprise.  When I spend any amount of time talking with someone who has that accent, I start mimicking it without realizing.  I have to be careful, because that can be interpreted as disrespect, but it happens naturally.

[Q4u]

There are voice coaches, or even classes that work on/train voice definition.  I say this because I had several back in the day when I was doing Theater.  The coaches will work with the individual to stop such things as glottal shock that is prevailant with a lot of speakers and singers~!  Glottal Shock is a clicking in the voice that can be heard at the onset of words that do not begin with some sort of consonant.  Also will help with timber and styling as well as pronunciation.

There ARE voice coaches out there that will evaluate your voice and have been trained to recognize and help the person correct  unpleasant aspects.... good luck! 

[lolakimono]

@bonnielu

A good speech therapist can help with this.  I spent my summer in voice therapy, to learn how to project without causing laryngitis.  It only required 4 sessions and was covered by insurance (although, like @house_cat I too use my voice to make a living).

[house_cat]

@lolakimono

I need to look into that.  Every day, I go to my oldsters on the way home from school.  Every day, my mom says, "What's the matter?  You're so quiet."  Every day, I have to explain to her again that I talk all day long. When I get home I just want to shut up and have everyone leave me alone.  If anyone knew how many questions a teacher had to answer in a day, aside from the lesson, they would be surprised.

[lolakimono]

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@house_cat wrote:

@lolakimono

I need to look into that.  Every day, I go to my oldsters on the way home from school.  Every day, my mom says, "What's the matter?  You're so quiet."  Every day, I have to explain to her again that I talk all day long. When I get home I just want to shut up and have everyone leave me alone.  If anyone knew how many questions a teacher had to answer in a day, aside from the lesson, they would be surprised.

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@house_cat

Four hours minimum, of talking/teaching a day, plus phone calls home to parents, talking on the phone when the office calls in the room looking for students, and talking to co-workers in planning.

[house_cat]

Make sure you have your first and last name and period on your paper.

Do we have to put our period on the paper?

Glue this worksheet to page 12 of your notebook?

Do we glue this to our notebook?

When you're finished, check over your work and put it in the turn-in basket.

What do we do when we're finished?

The assignment is due Tuesday.

When is the assignment due?

If you're not finished, you need to finish for homework.

Do we need to finish this for homework?

Make sure you use ONLY blue or black ink for the test.

Can we write in pencil?

Janey, you are missing several assignments.

My mom wants me to ask what I can do to bring up my grade.

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!