Voice And Speaking Skills For Dummies

Voice and Speaking Skills For Dummies®
Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/voiceandspeakingskillsuk to view this book's cheat sheet. Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Conventions Used in This Book What You’re Not to Read Foolish Assumptions How This Book is Organised Part I: Introducing the Human Voice Part II: Beginning with Voice Basics Part III: Playing Your Instrument Well PartIV: Beating the Voice Gremlins Part V: Engaging with a Broader Public Part VI: The Part of Tens Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here Part I: Introducing the Human Voice Chapter 1: Having a Great Voice Trumpeting the Voice Exploring the power of your voice Reaping the rewards of a great voice Making small changes for big impact Enjoying the Advantages of Speaking Well Being understoodclearly Being a pleasure to listen to Feeling more confident Conveying authority Influencing others Inspiring others Entertaining people Connecting better Finding Out about Voice Coaching Discovering your natural voice Facing the challenge Thinking About What You Want to Develop in Your Own Voice Getting people to listen to you Working with your accent Saying what you mean and meaning what you sayDeveloping a robust, healthy voice Becoming fluent Identifying Good Voices The alive voice The authentic voice The connecting voice The voice that has something to say

Starting Out Choosing your method Finding yourself in your voice Chapter 2: Exploring the Amazing Human Voice Discovering the Power of Voices Hearing All the Sounds that Make Up Your Voice Dispelling Voice Myths Myth 1: You’re stuckwith your voice Myth 2: Your voice is out of your control Myth 3: Words matter more than voice Myth 4: Only looks really count Digging Deeper into How You React to Voices Experiencing sound’s physical power Responding to sound’s vibrations Making meaning from voice sounds Chapter 3: Getting to Know Your Own Voice Hearing What You Sound Like Listening to a recording Listening from inside Gettingfeedback Recognising your unique sound Gathering Insights into Your Voice Picking up the traces Sounding out your life story Revealing Your Different Voices Shifting pitch Finding your natural pitch Taking Stock Evaluating your voice Assessing how your voice fits you Preparing for Your Journey Beginning with the nuts and bolts Getting in the right frame of mind Putting yourself in the driver’s seatPart II: Beginning with Voice Basics Chapter 4: Discovering How to Breathe Well Making a Sound: How Your Voice Works Demystifying your breath: It’s just hot air Amplifying the sound Getting Started with Breathing Becoming aware of your breathing Thinking low Engaging your diaphragm Taking full breaths

Breathing to Communicate Producing a steady stream of air Speaking on air Turning breath intosound Play-Acting with Sound and Breathing Getting big and theatrical Surprising yourself Declaiming like an actor Pushing the boat out Remembering to breathe! Chapter 5: Rediscovering Relaxation Finding Freedom For a Fine Sound Readying Your Body to Speak Freeing up every part of your body Relaxing around your vocal cords Standing Steady and Balanced Rediscovering your balance Adopting afloating posture Going Deeper into Relaxation With Body and Mind Blending Relaxation with Readiness: Not Too Tight, Not Too Loose Involving your whole body Relishing the state of readiness Enjoying perpetual motion Chapter 6: Turning Sound into Speech Making Your Voice Clearly Understood Forming the words Warming up your facial muscles Giving your air attitude Bringing Your Words to Life with Long SoundsStretching out the long vowels Enjoying the character of words Stretching out the long consonants Enjoying the expressive qualities of long consonants Adding Sparkle with Short Sounds Colouring your speech with short consonants Expressing emotion with short vowels and consonants Part III: Playing Your Instrument Well Chapter 7: Exploring Volume and Speed Turning Up (and Down) the Volume...