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At_His_Feet
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| Posted: April 29 2008 at 4:44am | IP Logged
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When I read aloud I find that my voice very quickly tires and becomes sore making it uncomfortable to read for as long as I would like. I assume this is because I am not correctly projecting my voice.
Is there by any chance, someone who can tell me what I am doing wrong, and how to correct it. Perhaps someone who sings or acts?
I hope my question isn't too odd! 
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Tricia
Mum to 3 boys 17, 15, and 10.
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EmilyC
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| Posted: April 29 2008 at 7:25am | IP Logged
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Not odd at all, my voice does the same thing! I'm interested in hearing the responses. Right now, Luden's cough drops are my friend. 
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Emily,
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insegnante
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| Posted: April 29 2008 at 9:45am | IP Logged
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I did have the same problem before I took singing lessons. Which I doubt is a practical solution for you, but if you are someone who learns well this way, you might try reading or watching something (maybe borrow a video from the library or purchase one if you find it valuable enough) meant to teach vocal production for singers. I guess if it's important enough to your children's education you might even be able to hire a voice teacher for a lesson or two with this goal in mind! There's probably the same resources available somewhere specifically for speakers too, but I figure it might be easier to find those meant for training singers.
I don't know how well I sing now with 1 1/2 years of voice lessons in the past, but I don't get the same fatigue and soreness. I can also yell/shout (for good purposes!) "better," and when I'm sick I now even seem better able to cough so as to clear chest congestion better and without getting my throat so sore.
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Theresa
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amyable
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| Posted: April 29 2008 at 10:31am | IP Logged
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I used to be a speech-language pathologist and we learned a bit about voice. I know I have forgotten a lot though! Let's see if I remember anything...
- Breathe!  Sit up straight, shoulders back but relaxed, and breathe from your abdomen. One, it helps you relax, and talking on "tense" vocal cords hurts more than when you are relaxed, and two, proper breath support is essential for projecting your voice. Take a deep breath and try to read with the outflow of breath doing more of the work to make you loud, not the vocal cords. I know I'm guilty of not breathing enough (I don't want to slow down - it's always a race to get read alouds done here before someone wakes up or has a melt down LOL).
-relax your neck and shoulders (roll your head around, shrug your shoulders - loosen up).
-drink lots of water - coffee and tea are dehydrating.
- if your voice already hurts and you still need to read, try this little trick: as you are speaking, visualize your voice coming up your throat and up higher into your head, and out your nose instead of your mouth. For some reason this is supposed to help. I think it directs some of the tenseness away from your throat and up more into your nose?
- project only as much as you need to. Bring your kids in close and you won't have to shout. Ask if they can hear you as low as you are comfortable with.
- Not that you do this, but don't shout/yell/scream at other times.  That hard vocal attack when one is upset can cause real damage.
- vary your tone, read high and low with inflections - reading in a monotone is harder on your vocal cords.
Hmmmm, that's all I can think of. Hope it helps a bit.
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mariB
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| Posted: June 23 2008 at 9:09am | IP Logged
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Just saw this:)
Our bodies have a lovely diaphragm. It is right below your rib cage. Press you 4 fingers there. Singers sing from there. If your read or sing from just your throat it will get sore. If you read or sing from your diaphragm it will save your voice!
_Lie on the floor with a nice dictionary on your upper belly.
-breathe so that the book moves up and down.
- fill up the diaphragm. You will know it fills up because the book will rise up on your upper belly.
-fill up that diaphragm and do "ah" from there.
That's where your reading and singing voice should come from.
That's how Celine Dion holds those golden notes!
This is just a little bit of instruction in a nutshell. Hope this helps!
Blessings,
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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mariB
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| Posted: June 23 2008 at 9:10am | IP Logged
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Oh, and after you read, I know this is going to sound gross, but a little hot water ( not scalding...tea temperature) sipped slowly after soothes the vocal chords.
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Obscure voice Q
