How to Train Your Vocal Cords
A healthy, natural voice sounds clear and unforced. To produce a natural voice you need good posture, relaxed, flexible muscles throughout the whole body, easy breathing and smooth vibration of the vocal cords.
By following a simple exercise program, you can achieve a natural and clear voice.
Things You'll Need
- Stopwatch
Instructions
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1
Practice deep-breathing exercises. Stand with a straight back, lie down or sit comfortably in a chair. Place your open hands on your stomach so that the extended fingertips just touch. Slowly breathe in while counting silently to three. Push out your stomach as you do so; your fingertips should separate. Hold the breath for a further silent count of three, then slowly exhale. Draw in your stomach muscles so your fingertips touch again. Repeat five times.
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2
Breathe out on a sigh (h) and follow with a vowel sound.
For example: h....ah, h....ee, h....eye, h....oh, h....oo, h....ay
Gradually reduce the length of the sigh (h) and lengthen the vowel sound.
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3
Precede the vowel sounds with different consonants, such as "m," "s," "sh," "f" and "z."
For example: m....ah, s....ee, sh....eye, f....oh, z....oo, m....ay
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4
Sustain the vowel sounds for as long as possible. Take a breath and use a stopwatch to time how long you lasted. Aim to gradually extend the time.
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5
Practice gliding from one vowel sound to another.
For example: ay....ee....oo, oo....ah....aw
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6
Sing up and down the scale to "lah" or "m."
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7
Say each vowel with rising, falling and varying inflections.
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8
Say each vowel while gradually increasing and decreasing the volume. Be careful not to alter the pitch, only the volume.
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9
Count to 20 and say every fifth number loudly. Repeat and stress every second number.
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10
Read aloud different types of prose or poetry.
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