Millions of people dislike the sound of their own voice. Why? How do you feel when you listen to your voice on your
answering machine? Would you like to have a deeper, fuller, richer, more resonating voice?
What is it that makes us all sound different? Is there something that can be done to affect the quality of your voice?
A major aspect of the quality of your voice lies in its resonance. But what is vocal resonance?
As we learned in science class, sound is vibration and the speed at which something vibrates determines its note.
But resonance is determined by the space in which that vibration takes place. What makes a violin sound different
from a cello? Not only the difference between the strings, but the size, shape and material of the "box" that the
strings vibrate over. That space in which the vibration takes place determines the harmonics and the spectrum of
overtones of the sound. With a tube, the size, shape and material affects the resonance, in addition to whether or
not the tube is open ended.
For us human beings this so-called "box" is our throat, mouth, chest, and nasal cavities. And since their sizes vary
between people, everyone naturally sounds different. However, each of us can also change this space, resulting in
different singing styles with different resonating qualities. That's partly what makes the sound of a jazz singer
different from an opera singer -- the difference in resonance. Impersonators are experts at manipulating the
resonating characteristics of their instrument. The beauty of this unique instrument called the voice, is there is not
necessarily anything right or wrong when it comes to resonance. Everyone is different.
But how does one improve the resonance of his or her voice?
Many a beginning singer falls into the trap of simply artificially manipulating their space. Unfortunately, the modus
operandi of many singing teachers is to make their students sound a set way, the ideal of what sounds "good." They
teach the students to hold their jaws, mouths, and larynxes in specific positions, to place the sound in a specific
area, open the throat, feel like they are yawning, and other vocal tricks.
But the result often is a singer who produces an artificial, manipulated, even tight and compressed sound. Instead of
freeing the singer from restriction, it adds restriction and tension. The result is a singer who sounds like he or she
has taken voice classes, but does not sound like a truthful, distinct, and engaging artist.
If your voice isn't as resonating as you would like it to be, the problem may lie in the amount of tension already built
up after years of habitual use. Release the tension blocking the vibration -- which is making your voice sound more
restricted -- and you improve the resonance of your voice. There's more to it than just saying "relax," however. The
ability to relax certain areas is a learned skill.
No matter what style to you want to sing -- from rock to opera -- you will get a stronger, freer resonance when you
build strength in certain areas and release built-up tension.
Resonance of your voice infuses other areas of your life, particularly as an artist. When your voice becomes freer
and more resonant, you will resonate with others -- and the entire world around you -- on a different level. Since
your voice is the first impression people get of you: if you restrict and inhibit the voice and you come across as a
restricted, inhibited person. Release your physical voice and you will release your inner voice, so that as an artist,
you will resonate with your audience.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |