A Strength Training Workout for Your Voice

1. Breathe deeply and exhale on a hisssssssing sound.  Repeat 10 times.
   
   
   • Proper breathing is the foundation for a healthy voice AND control over nervous energy that can make the voice quiver.
   
   


2. Say “Mm-mmm (as in yummy) Mmm-hmm (like yes) ” Repeat 5  times.
   
   
   • This develops mask resonance, which creates a clean and vibrant sound by creating a clean approximation of the cords and a resonance that will sound great and project easily.
   
   


3. Say “Mm-mmm.  Mmm-hmm.” up and down your vocal range, from low to middle to high and back again, 10 times.


4. Raise your volume a bit and say “Mmmmmmmmy name is…” Repeat this ten times up and down your vocal range.
   
   
   • This enhances vocal flexibility and coordination.
   
   


5. Say “Ney, ney, ney, ney, ney” loudly but without yelling 10 times up and down your vocal range.
   
   
   • This is more mask resonance training.
   
   


6. Starting at mid range, make a siren sound with Oooo and Eeeee by sliding down your vocal range several times, starting higher each time.
   
   
   • Again, the focus here is on more flexibility and coordination.
   
   


7. Say “Mmmmmmm” until you feel a buzzy sensation in the front of your face. Repeat 5 times.
   
   
   • Mask resonance again.
   
   


8. Now, for isolation of muscles for articulation, try some tongue twisters like those below.  To get the full workout, say them each several times but only as fast as you can go and keep them clear.  You can increase your speed over time:
   
   
   • The blue bluebird blinks.
   
   
   • Three free throws.
   
   
   • What time does the wristwatch strap shop shut?
   
   
   • Strange strategic statistics.
   
   
   • Freshly fried flying fish, freshly fried flesh.
   
   


9. To bring it all together, speak a few sentences out loud.  Use an opening or closing of a talk, a favorite poem or long quote, or song lyrics.


10. Every good work out needs a cool down.  End with 5 more big, deep breaths.

Taking Your Vocal Workout to the Next Level

The workout above will help you get some awareness of your voice and start to strengthen it.  To go to the next level, I recommend the following:

• Practice your speeches out loud.


• Warm up your voice everyday, but especially before public speaking. Ideally, spend as much time practicing as you will in front of an audience.


• Learn to breathe properly and apply that technique to your public speaking.
  See Breathing: The Seductive Key to Unlocking Your Vocal Variety


• Hum a lot.  Explore and develop mask resonance.
  See Speak Up! A Guide to Voice Projection


• Take a singing class or private singing lessons. This is true strength training for your voice.

Dinner Menu

Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon (but with short ribs instead of stew beef)
Scalloped Potatoes Au Gratin
Emeril Lagasse's Spinach Casserole
Sally Lunn Bread

Dessert Menu

Pecan Pie
Chocolate Chip Cookies with 1/2 Cup of Pecans

2001: Space Odyssey (1968) ~ Pretentious and insufferable artsy nonsense.

The Graduate (1967) ~ I just don’t get it.  The entire movie can be summed up in a single sentence and the movie poster was more exciting than the film itself.

Top Gun (1986) ~ In the dictionary under “dick flick”, there is a picture of this movie.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962) ~ An abridged version would’ve helped.

Avatar (2009) ~ What a waste of a film budget.

Jurassic Park (1993) ~ I really don’t think this movie is deserving of FOUR sequels.

Million Dollar Baby (2004) ~ This is singlehandedly the most fucked up, filthy, onerous, disturbing, uninspired film I have ever had the misfortune of seeing.  My cousin picked it out for the family to watch and that was the last time she was ever allowed to choose the movie.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) ~ ‘Unbearable’ is the word.

English Patient (1996) ~ Puts me to sleep every time.  I finally got to the end of it and I still had no idea what the movie was about.

Star Wars (1977) ~ I know, I know.

The Piano (1993) ~ This film was nothing more than an ugly movie about ****** up people.

Monster’s Ball (2001) ~ Trash.

American Beauty (1999) ~ Absolute SHIT. Again, nothing more than an ugly movie about ****** up people.

Out of Africa (1985) ~ Ugly and boring.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) ~ I want my two hours back.

Brokeback Mountain (2005) ~ AWFUL.  The story was lame, the acting was lame. It wasn’t romantic, the characters were unsympathetic, it was poorly written and boring as hell. I found myself realizing that all of the fame and awards that were bestowed on it were motivated solely by those promoting a political agenda and not due to its entertainment or artistic value.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) ~ I love Tom and Nicole but Stanley Kubrick is one DEEPLY fucked up man.

The Shape of Water (2017) ~ The worst best picture Oscar winner since American Beauty. Boring, slow, uninspired. The lead actress was excellent. The rest were caricatures: the supportive black friend, the understanding gay neighbor, the evil military. I kept telling myself, “Stay awake. This thing won best picture. It’s GOT to get better.” No such luck. Two dimensional storytelling by artists who should have aspired for something more. A major disappointment.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence 2001 (2001) ~ SO disturbing that even as a teenager, I cried, had a panic attack afterwards, came home and asked my mom if I could sleep in her bed that night.  :((((

The Way We Were (1973) ~ This is supposed to be a great love story? What kind of man walks away from the woman he loves right after she’s given birth to his child?  As in RIGHT after. And all because “she was so difficult that he couldn’t take it”?  I was watching the whole time and she wasn’t that difficult. So again, a great love story?  I remain underwhelmed.

Splendor in the Grass (1961) ~ I certainly recognize the venerable actors and the excellent performances, however, the hopeless romantic in me is so not interested in watching this movie again. 💔

Bridge On The River Kwai (1957) ~ Director David Lean has a terrible habit of falling too in love with his own work. He needs to take a step back from his pictures and massively trim them down. His films also have a subtle condescending quality to them that I find unappealing, despite their “epic” stature. This film was no exception.