The voice book : caring for, protecting, and improving your voice

Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Getting Started
	Using the Audio Tracks
	One Last Note
2. Opening the Channel: Alignment
	Free Your Neck and the Rest Will Follow
	Alignment as Habit
	Exercises to Explore Alignment
		Rest Position
		Wall Exercise
		Shoulder Blade Squeeze
		Stretching the Head and Neck
	Frequently Asked Questions about Alignment
3. Summoning the Power: Breath
	Building a Case for Low Breathing
	Exercises to Explore Breathing
		Increasing Awareness
		Fff Exercise
		Lower Rib Side Breathing
		Back Expansion Breathing
		Breathing with Speech
		Candle Blowing
		Pant from the Abdomen
		Sniff and Blow
		Exhale Your Voice
		Pulse Sounds
		Deep Breathing
	Frequently Asked Questions about Breathing
4. Bringing Sound to Life: The Vocal Cords
	Your Larynx and You
	True or False Vocal Folds?
	The Ceiling of the Larynx
	Exercises to Explore the Vocal Cords
		Finding Your Larynx
		Feeling Vocal Fold Vibration
		Controlling Vocal Fold Closure
		Understanding the Ups and Downs of Your Larynx
	Frequently Asked Questions about Vocal Cords
5. Tweaking the Filter Settings: Vocal Resonance
	The Vocal Tract
	Vocal Tract Tour
		Ground Floor
		Going Up
		Next Stop, the Tongue
		Rounding the Bend: The Nasality Muscle
		Last Stop: The Lips
	How Not to Have a Resonant Voice
	Using the Vocal Tract to Change Vocal Loudness
	Vocal Placement: What Is It and Why Is It Important?
	Finding Your Resonant, Strong Voice
	14 Steps to Build Your Resonant Voice
		1. Anchoring
		2. Arcing
		3. Increasing Forward Vibrations
		4. Finding Forward Vowels
		5. Feeling N
		6. Forward Focus: One Syllable I
		7. Forward Focus: One Syllable II
		8. Forward Focus: Two Syllables
		9. Forward Focus: Three and Four Syllables
		10. Forward Focus: Phrases
		11. Forward Focus: Paragraph
		12. Forward Focus: Conversation I
		13. Forward Focus: Conversation II
		14. Forward Focus: Conversation III
	Troubleshooting Tips
		Tongue Tension
		Jaw Tension
		Breath
		Pitch
		Intention
	Frequently Asked Questions about Resonance
6. Creating Music and Flow: Easy Onset, Linking, and Emphasis
	Easy Onset and Linking
	Exercises to Explore Easy Onset and Linking
		Onset Options
		Practicing Both Techniques
	Emphasis
	Intonation Techniques
		Pitch
		Loudness
		Rate
		Enunciation
		Pauses
	Frequently Asked Questions about Easy Onset, Linking, and Emphasis
7. Speech Training: The Lips, the Teeth, the Tip of the Tongue
	Under Pressure
	On the Tip of Your Tongue
	The More the Merrier
	Consonant Sounds
		Plosives
		Tongue-Tip–Gum-Ridge Sounds
		Consonant Clusters
	You’ve Got the Moves
	Mouth Calisthenics
		Open Wide
		Tongue Base Stretch
		Strengthening the Tongue Tip
		Working the Back of the Tongue
		Energizing the Lips
		Engaging the Speech Muscles
		Lip Range of Motion
	“Speak the Speech, I Pray You”
	Frequently Asked Questions about Articulation
8. Voice as a Metaphor
	Figurative and Literal Voice
	Voice as Energy
	Exploring Your Voice from the Inside Out
		Journal Topics
9. Preparing the Playing Field: Warm-Up and Cool-Down
	The Warm-Up
	Warm-Up Exercises, Part I: Musculature
		Neck Stretches
		Jaw Massage
		Tongue Exercises
		Alignment
	Warm-Up Exercises, Part II: Breathing
		Low Expansion Inhale
		Fff Exercise
		Adding Speech to Breath
	Warm-Up Exercises, Part III: Warming Up the Vocal Folds
		Hum and Chew
		Puppy Dog Whimper
		Sirens
		Lip Trills
		Decrease Tongue Tension
		1-to-20 Counting
		Humming into Resonators
	Warm-Up Exercises, Part IV: Forward Focus and Articulation
		Forward Focus Progression
		Tongue Twisters
	Warm-Up Exercises, Part V: Vocalizing Through a Straw
		Straw Kazoo
	The Cool-Down
	Cool-Down Exercises
	Frequently Asked Questions about Warm-Up and Cool-Down
10. Safeguarding the Valuables: Preventing Vocal Injury
	How Vocal Folds Get Damaged
	The Wetter the Better
	Vocal Cord Enemies
		Smoke and Other Drying Agents
		Reflux
		Postnasal Drip
		Environmental Irritants
	Beauty Rest
	Don’t Slam the Cords!
		Amp It Up
	Use It So You Don’t Lose It
	Danger Signs
	Managing Laryngitis
	Seeking Help
	Frequently Asked Questions about Preventing Vocal Injury
11. Vocal Success: What to Do in Specific Situations and Environments
	Speaking to Groups
		Small (1 to 10)
		Medium (10 to 40)
		Large (40+)
	Adjusting for Room Acoustics
		Room Size
		People and Objects in the Room
		Echo, Echo, Echo
	Making the Most of Your Microphone
	Managing Stage Fright
	Pacing for Marathon Talking Days
	Using the Telephone
	Using Voice Recognition Software
	Speaking, Cheering, and Shouting Outdoors
	Speaking Over Background Noise: Classrooms, Cars, and Bars
	Enhancing Your Vocal Image
		Confidence
		Charisma
		Power
		Approachability
		Trustworthiness
12. Behind the Scenes: Additional Technical Information
	Breathing Basics
		Breathing and Alignment
	More Interesting Facts about Vocal Cord Vibration
		The Larynx and Alignment
	Crash Course on Vocal Acoustics
		Overtones
		Resonant Frequency
		Selective Amplification and Reinforcement
		Formants
		Acoustics and Alignment
	Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract: What, How, and Why
	Working with Students Who Have Medical Complications
		Asthma
		Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement
		Acid Reflux
		Anxiety
	Working with Hoarse Students
	Instrumentation for Voice Analysis
		Laryngeal Videostroboscopy
		Acoustic Analysis
		Aerodynamic Analysis
	The Voice Evaluation
Appendix: Additional Resources
Glossary
References
Index
Audio Track List
About the Authors
Back Cover