VOICE FOUNDATIONS
Jumpstart your voice journey with this 6-module introductory coaching package.
Each session will cover a different topic related to voice mechanics (how the voice works) and integrate these lessons into singing and speaking practices that will cultivate your voice skills over time.
Investing in your voice will let your expertise shine and allow you to focus on your message in the moment. Speaking and singing are both highly complex skills, comprised of a number of tiny, coordinated actions in our bodies and minds that are all happening simultaneously. And how these things play out, in other words how use our voices, is largely based in the realm of habits. After all, we’ve been speaking most of our lives!
The Voice Foundations curriculum is designed to help you become aware of your own voice habits and explore new ones that support the function and authentic expression of your voice. In it, we will cover:
How the Voice Works:
The voice is such a fascinating instrument, and there are a lot of moving parts that coordinate to create the sound of your voice. By understanding more about the mechanics of the human voice, you’ll gain an understanding of which aspects of your voice are within your control, which are not, and where it’s best to put your effort when you’re looking to enhance a particular quality in your speaking and singing.
Breathing for Voice:
Breath is foundational to voice–the flow of the breath is what vibrates our vocal cords and makes the sound happen. There is a particular way to breathe that helps support a powerful, clear, and vibrant voice sound, and it’s different from how we breathe for other activities. Learning how to effectively support your voice with breath lays the groundwork for a powerful and expressive voice.
A Tour of the Vocal Tract:
In this module, we'll continue our exploration of how the voice works with an interactive warm-up through the anatomical features of your vocal instrument that contribute to the resonance of your voice. By taking a glimpse under the hood, you'll get to know why you sound the way you do, and ways to work with the parts of the vocal tract to enhance certain qualities in your voice.
Articulation:
As a continuation of the exploration of the vocal tract, this section will focus on how we form consonant sounds in our speech and thus make words and meaning out of it. We'll add articulation exercises to your arsenal of vocal warm-ups that will help you clarify and pace your speech.
Voice Care Practices:
Our voices don't come with a user's manual and unfortunately voice education isn't something most of us encounter in school, so most of us are left to our own devices when it comes to caring for our voices. This section will cover tips and practices to keep your voice healthy, and what to do when you're experiencing difficulties with your voice.
How to Integrate New Voice Habits:
New voice skills take time and repetition to feel comfortable and accessible in the moment. Like any other physical skill that we learn, it takes time for us to solidify new ways of using our voices that may be different from our habitual way of speaking. Understanding how to weave warm-ups and practices into your daily life, finding different ways to track your progress, and knowing what to expect as you’re integrating new voice skills can help set you up for vocal growth beyond our sessions together.