Vocal Impact 1

With just ten minutes of gentle exercise per day, you can build vocal stamina and improve the 

tone of your voice.

Always start with some gentle limbering to release excess tension from your body. Work from a 

‘centered’, grounded position, with a strong spine, but working towards releasing the muscles you are not using.

The breath is the powerhouse for the voice, so once you feel your body is released and centered, 

start to focus on your breath. Always try to breath to the base of your lungs not into the top 

or you will risk causing shoulder and chest tension.

Once you feel the breath is ‘centering’, then go onto sounds, words, sentences and whole speeches.

The Exercises:

Finding A Centered Position:

The body works at its best when it is firmly grounded and working in a state of equilibrium. 

First get the feet right, put them together, turn the toes to 'ten to the hour', turn out the heels so the feet are parallel. 

Within a short time, this will happen instinctively without you having to go through the whole process.

Close your eyes and start to part the area just below the belly button. Focus all your attention there and try to imagine the area beneath your hand as a ball of powerful energy. Imagine that energy spreading out all over your body. Feel the strong connection between your feet and the 

floor. Let your knees have a little 'give' in then- not bent and not braced back. Notice if you feel more connected in this 'centered' position.

Stretching:

First have a really good stretch. Stretch up to the ceiling, keeping your shoulders down, but 

feeling the stretch coming from your ribs and arms.

Develop into a stretch and a yawn to release the jaw and open your throat. Keep your tongue tip touching the back of your lower front teeth as you do this and consciously open the top of your throat.

Stretch up and hold the body in a tight position for a moment.

Flop down as you breath out fully.

Pushing:

To release tension around the arms and shoulders, imagine you are pushing against a wall a foot away at shoulder height. Push really hard, then gradually release the effort and allow your arms to fall easily beside you.

Head & Neck:

Then release your neck by allowing your head to fall heavily onto your chest. Raise it slowly until it feels well balanced on your shoulders. Try to use the minimum of effort and try to 

engage the muscles at the back of the neck - not the front.

Repeat this three times, imagine your head getting heavier as it falls and lighter as it rises.

Repeat the above exercise, allowing the head to fall to the back and then each side in turn.

Each time there should be no sensation of 'placing' your head, but of allowing it to find its 

resting position on its own.

Chest & Shoulders:

Lift your chest up and forward until you feel an exaggerated hollow in the centre of your back. 

Hold it there for a few mental counts and then release the chest.

Roll your shoulders forwards three times and back three times.

Then lift them up to your ears and try to move them into different shapes.

Try to speak with them up around your ears.

Then loosely shake them up, notice the contrast while you speak.

Wrist & Ankles

Shake out your wrist - trying to make them go as completely floppy.

Remember, even tension in your hands- although a long way from your voice box it affects the way you sound.

Then do the same for each foot - shake them out as though you could gently shake your foot off.

Replace on the ground and feel the connection.

I wish You Great Success.