Notes on the Human Voice Lecture

Introduction

• The human voice is a powerful instrument.
• It can start wars or express love.
• Despite its power, many feel unheard when they speak.
• Importance of speaking powerfully to create change.

Seven Deadly Sins of Speaking

1. Gossip

   • Speaking ill of someone not present.
   • A habit that can lead to mistrust.

2. Judging

   • Difficult to listen to someone who judges others.

3. Negativity

   • Hard to engage with negative individuals.
   • Example of negativity: "It's dreadful, isn't it?"

4. Complaining

   • Common in the UK; seen as a national sport.
   • Spreads negativity rather than positivity.

5. Excuses

   • Avoiding responsibility for actions; difficult to engage with.

6. Embroidery (Exaggeration)

   • Demeans language; exaggeration can lead to lying.

7. Dogmatism

   • Confusion between facts and opinions; hard to listen when opinions are treated as facts.

Positive Cornerstones for Powerful Speech

• Four foundations for effective speaking: HAIL
  • Honesty: Be true and clear in communication.
  • Authenticity: Be yourself and stand in your truth.
  • Integrity: Be trustworthy; follow through on your words.
  • Love: Wish well for others; honesty tempered with love is crucial.

Tools to Enhance Speaking

• Importance of using voice effectively; few people explore their vocal toolbox.

Key Tools:

1. Register

   • Different vocal registers convey different meanings.
   • Lower voices often associated with authority.

2. Timbre

   • The quality of the voice; can be improved with practice.

3. Prosody

   • The rhythm and melody of speech; essential for conveying meaning.
   • Avoid monotony; vary tone and inflection.

4. Pace

   • Adjust speaking speed for emphasis; includes using silence effectively.

5. Pitch

   • Varying pitch can convey different emotional tones.

6. Volume

   • Use volume to attract attention, but avoid "sodcasting" (imposing sound carelessly).

Vocal Warm-Up Exercises

• Importance of warming up the voice before speaking.

Six Exercises:

1. Deep Breath and Sigh: Inhale deeply and exhale with a sigh.
2. Lip Trills: Make a "Ba" sound repeatedly.
3. Brrrr: Create a vibrating sound with lips.
4. Tongue Exercise: Exaggerated "la" sounds.
5. Roll an R: Perform a rolling 'R' sound.
6. Siren Exercise: Glide from high to low pitch using "we" and "aw" sounds.

Conclusion

• Current communication often lacks engagement and is hindered by noise.
• Imagine a world where:
  • Speaking and listening are conscious acts.
  • Environments are designed for effective sound.
  • Understanding and connection are prioritized.
• This vision of effective communication is worth sharing.