Elocution lessons

Understanding and increasing vocal resonance : Public Speaking

In Improve Your Speaking, Voice by Thila RajaLeave a Comment

Have you wanted to have a fuller, deeper, richer voice, but had no idea how to ? Have you heard people use the term resonance, but did not know what it means?
Resonance refers to the richness, amplification and quality o voice. In essence, 3 resonators, modify sound as it passes through the larynx. These are: Your Pharynx, Nasal and Oral areas. Any imbalance in any of those areas results in an imbalance in resonance of your voice.

How can you alter your resonance?

Nasal resonance:

In theory, it is difficult to change your nasal resonance, due to restrictions in their shape and size. The also have the least significance in vocal quality. What is important when working on nasal resonance, is to ensure that they are separate to oral and pharyngeal resonance.

Practice the following :/ ng ah/ ng oh/ ng ee/ In sequence. Ensure that there is a contrast between nasal /ng / & the vowels.

Pharyngeal resonance. Ensure the pharynx is nice and relaxed. Start from a YAWN and move to a SIGH. This will open up the pharyngeal space and improve resonance.

Oral resonance:  This essentially means creating space within the oral area, so that sound can reverberate and get amplified, without you trying too hard to be heard. What encompasses the oral resonators? ( Lips, jaw, tongue). Hence the space created inside the mouth is essential.

Open your lower jaw when you are speaking, so that your voice gets reverberated inside the resonator. Practice saying ‘Woo”, to mimic the sound of the wind. Play around with the pitches of this sound, and come to the highest and lowest pitches.

Most important, you need to feel unrestricted and free when you are talking. A relaxed head neck will ensure you have freedom of movement and space for a good resonant voice, and that starts with the top, with your posture!



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