Category Archives: Voice Training

Why You Don’t Like The Sound of Your Voice & What to Do About It

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Most people don’t like the sound of their voice when they hear it replayed on a recorder. As a voice and diction teacher for almost four decades, I can attest to that fact.

When Arthur Lessac trained me to teach his Lessac Voice Method, he also trained me to have a great voice. The day that I realized that I had a really beautiful speaking voice was a day that transformed my life. I will be forever grateful to Arthur!

Watch this video from Business Insider to understand why you don’t like your voice. Then, I’ll explain what you can do to learn to like your voice.

Since you hear your own voice through the bones of your head, the quality of resonance sounds richer and deeper to you than it doe to everyone else who are hearing you through air conduction alone.

What you can do to improve the resonance and tonal quality of your voice is to place the vocal vibrations of your voice onto the front of your hard palate (the boney roof of your mouth) and allow the vibrations to sympathetically vibrate into the front of your face (the mask).

For specific instructions on how to place your vocal vibrations so that your voice resonates and sounds fuller and richer, please see my blog post How to have a Good Voice for Public speaking and Group Communication.

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Impeccable Diction – Dylan Thomas Reading Fern Hill

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Diction is articulation of consonant sounds. Consonants make speech clear, crisp and intelligible. I am so grateful to Arthur Lessac of The Lessac Institute for the training in diction he gave me. I realize that my speech is very easy for listeners to understand because of the Lessac Method I know and teach.

Not many people in today’s world speak with impeccable diction, so when I hear good diction, I pay attention. Last week, while driving around town, listening to the local classical radio station, I heard a recording of Dylan Thomas reading his poem Fern Hill. This audio was recorded at Carnegie Hall’s 3rd floor recording studio in 1952.

Not only is Dylan Thomas’s voice arresting and dramatic, but his diction is impeccable! I have rarely heard someone who was not trained by Lessac speak with such perfect diction. Listen to this recording and take note how every consonant is articulated clearly. Notice you can understand every word as he reads.

While his style is overly dramatic for modern speech, his diction provides a great pronunciation lesson.  If you want to develop better diction, get a copy of the poem Fern Hill, listen a few times to Thomas read, and then practice reading aloud articulating the consonants as he does.

Dylan Thomas Reads Fern Hill

If you are a native English speaker who has been accused of mumbling, practice reading Fern Hill. If you are a non-native English speaker, do the same. If you’d like to learn better diction for clear speaking or for accent reduction, please reach out to me by phone or email.

 

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Steps for Practicing to Reduce or Modify an Accent

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I have been coaching non-native speakers of English to improve their pronunciation for almost four decades.  I was trained by Arthur Lessac in the Lessac Method of Voice and Diction.  Thanks to Arthur’s fine training and method, I can quickly and easily identify the sounds of English that non-native speakers need to learn.  It’s also easy for me to teach non-native speakers how to pronounce those sounds in just a few minutes.  Very quickly, my clients learn the mechanics of using their teeth, tongue and lips to form the sounds they need to “reduce” their accents.

Here’s the hard part.  Non-native speakers must not only learn to pronounce the sounds of English, they must integrate those sounds into their speech.  They must be able to use those sounds when speaking English in their daily conversations. It takes regular practice to actually integrate the sounds into their speech.  It also takes considerable time to develop the muscle memory needed for correct pronunciation to feel natural.

My job is first to identify the sounds a particular client needs to learn to modify or reduce his accent and then to teach him to make those sounds. The client’s job is to 1) practice making the sounds, 2) articulate those sounds in words, sentences and reading material, and 3) to integrate them into daily spoken speech.

Here are some steps for learning, practicing and integrating sounds of English into daily speech:

  1. Practice only one sound at a time. Concentrate your attention on one sound that will make your speech clearer. Give plenty of time to that one sound, perhaps a week, even two weeks.
  2. Practice making the sound alone to create muscle memory. Repeat a series of that sound several ways -slowly, fast, in sets of three, with eyes open, eyes closed, sitting, standing and walking. Feel the action of your teeth, tongue and lips as they work to make the sound.
  3. Practice words that have the sound at the beginning, middle and end. Create lists of words that contain that sound. Say your list aloud daily.
  4. Listen to a talk radio station for words that have the sound and repeat the words as you hear them spoken on the radio.
  5. Practice reading new material aloud every day. Read to make sure you are articulating the sound you are focusing on.
  6. When you are speaking, notice how that sound starts to happen more often in your speech. When you can use that sound most of the time when speaking, select another sound and start the process again.

This simple set of steps will gradually transform your speech to be more clear and understandable. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is all you need to improve your pronunciation. Why not start now?

If you think you might want help to modify your accent, reduce your accent or achieve clearer pronunciation, I’d be pleased to speak with you personally. Visit this page for details.  Click here to request a complimentary coaching call so we can talk about your goals and situation and determine if my program is right for you.

Sandra Zimmer’s Google+

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How Pronouncing Consonant Sounds Clearly Makes a Non-Native English Speaker Easier to Understand

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Learning to pronounce consonant sounds is vital to mastering clear, crisp, intelligible speech. This translates into meaningful spoken communication that is easily understood. Pronouncing consonant sounds clearly makes every word you articulate more precise. This in turn makes your overall message more readily understood by your audience, whether it is a small group or large gathering.

Consonant Sounds are Robust.

Consonant sounds are well-defined. They provide rhythm and percussion to speech. Their robust nature tends to soften your accent. Rather than be distracted by this accent, your audience is more attentive to the message you are presenting. With their robust nature, consonant sounds tend to add definition and emphasis to the important aspects of your communication which makes your overall presentation more easily understood.

Pronouncing consonant sounds with purpose tends to make you pay closer attention to your words so that you slow your speech slightly. This small change in your verbal presentations helps hold your audience’s attention and enhances the general understanding of your message.

Consonant Sounds Give Definition for Easier Understanding.

Consonant sounds are vital for correct articulation of any word. Consonant sounds are generally consistent which makes them the foundation for most words. When you articulate consonant sounds within a word correctly, that word is universally understood which makes your entire communication more effective.

Additionally, when a word ends in a consonant sound and you clearly pronounce that ending, your overall speech has greater definition and quality.

Take a Step Toward Minimizing Your Accent.

Self-Expression Center offers several accent reduction and accent modification opportunities for your convenience:

  • Customized Accent Reduction or Accent Modification Programs for Individuals.

Individual coaching generally consists of 8 one-hour private sessions. Ten to fifteen specific sounds of English that the foreign-born professional is not pronouncing correctly are identified and addressed. The student learns how to articulate those sounds. Sessions may be taken one hour per week or one hour every two weeks to allow the student to practice and integrate new sounds into daily speech. Sessions may also be completed by telephone or by Skype from anywhere in the world.

Customized Accent Reduction or Accent Modification Programs for Small Groups.
Group classes for individuals are offered in small groups of 4 to 6 participants at Self-Expression Center. Participants learn to pronounce the sounds of English that help them be more easily understood when speaking English. For example Asians typically need to learn the consonant sounds of L, R, V, W, N, NG and TH and certain neutral vowels that Americanize their pronunciation. Sandra teaches participants to use their teeth, tongue and lips to form these sounds correctly. They practice in words, sentences, reading aloud. They also practice to integrate the sounds into their daily speech. Group classes are offered for 4 Fridays during lunch time.

If you would like to organize a small group of 4-6 colleagues from your company, organization, or friends, Sandra can tailor a 4 session program specifically customized for your group.

Customized Accent Reduction or Accent Modification Programs for Corporate Groups.
Group classes for corporate employees can be developed to suit the needs of the organization. Groups are most effective when limited to a maximum of 8 people. Sandra identifies the sounds of English that participants are not pronouncing correctly. She teaches participants proper articulation which is positioning of tongue, teeth, and lips, for correct pronunciation. Industry specific terms are used for practicing correct pronunciation.

Make Your Choice for Self Improvement Now. Call 281-293-7070 to request a free twenty-minute accent reduction consultation.

Sandra Zimmer’s Google+

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Accent Reduction: Why Pronouncing Consonants is More Important than Pronouncing Vowels

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There is no fast and easy way to reduce or modify an accent. If you are going to learn to reduce your accent, it is going to take considerable time and effort to practice.

OK, now I have said it! I don’t mean to discourage you, but I do mean to help you be realistic about reducing your accent.

With that out of the way, I’ll share what I believe to be the most productive and time-effective way to tackle accent reduction or accent modification.

To begin, clarify your goal. The goal should not be to get rid of your accent. It should be to speak English clearly so people can understand you easily when you speak English with your native accent.

If your goal is to have people understand you, you can limit the amount of time and work needed to achieve the result that is really important – clear articulation leading to intelligibility.

To achieve this more realistic goal, focus on learning to pronounce consonant sounds rather than vowel sounds. Here’s why:

Consonant sounds make speech clear, crisp and intelligible, meaning they make your speech easier to understand. Consonants are easier to learn than vowels. There is usually only one way to pronounce each consonant sound. Once you learn to position your teeth, tongue and lips for a consonant sound, you can insert it into any word and be fairly accurate.

Vowels, on the other hand, are more complicated. In English there is not a single standard for pronouncing each vowel. The “a” letter can be pronounced as many as 6 different ways. That makes learning vowel pronunciation very challenging.

Vowels can also vary in English pronunciation and still be acceptable. Each region of the US pronounces the vowels a little differently. So, a slight mispronunciation of a vowel from non-natives is not much of a problem. Our ears are willing to adjust to hearing the “i” in ‘him” mispronounced as an “e” like ‘heem.” While it is not correct Standard American pronunciation, it does not bother us much.

For all these reasons, the most valuable use of your practice time for reducing an accent is to focus on pronouncing consonant sounds.

My approach to helping a non-native professional speak English clearly is to identify the set of consonant sounds that will make the most difference to his or her speech. I have found that most people only need to learn a few consonants to be more easily understood. Chinese natives, for instance, often only need to learn to pronounce the sounds of N, NG, L, R, TH, V and W. Articulating these few sounds when speaking English makes a remarkable difference in their being understood.

If you are a non-native professional who needs to improve pronunciation, have someone with a trained ear listen to you speak. Ask them to tell you which consonant sounds you are missing or mispronouncing. Learn to articulate those consonants and then integrate them into your daily speech.

In another post, I will share how I coach clients to practice pronunciation skills.

Below is a 5 minute video of me speaking about my Speaking English Clearly Program.

Sandra’s Video on Accent Reduction Coaching

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SPEAKING FREELY: A BATTLE HARD FOUGHT FOR BY OUR FOUNDERS

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Happy July 4th! Let Freedom Ring throughout the World! – Sandra Zimmer

The following post was written by my dear friend and social media expert, Karen Scott Jones. Thanks, Karen!

How often do we reflect on our right to speak freely in this country?  I think we take it for granted that we can say what we feel, but do we?  In our daily presence at home and work do we really speak freely?

Whenever Americans are surveyed about their greatest fears, the fear of public speaking is usually at the top of the list. How ironic that we have the right to speak our own thoughts and feelings but are afraid to do so. Communicating and connecting with others is what makes us unique in the civilized world.  It is an intellectual pinnacle that separates us from all other creatures.

So as we celebrate this special time in our country’s history, let us not forget what countless men and women have fought so valiantly to preserve. … Our right of speaking freely!

If you have not become a speaker, now is the time to learn to add your voice to the mix.  Learning to speak in groups, meetings and presentations is a powerful way to transform your life and the world as well.  If I can help you transform into the powerful and inspiring communicator that you know you can be, visit www.self-expression.com.

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How to Have a Good Voice for Public Speaking and Group Communication

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Most people don’t know they can have a really good speaking voice. Many are surprised when they hear themselves on a voice recorder. People often tell me they don’t like the sound of their voices. And they think they are stuck with the voice they have been used to using.

Having a beautiful voice quality is attainable and easy for most people. The secret is in learning to resonate the vocal sound waves so that they fill up the bones of the mouth, face and head. When you place the vocal vibrations properly in the mouth and face, your voice tones become rich and resonant.

Try this vocal experiment. Follow the steps below and record yourself through the process.

1. Create a large space in your mouth by dropping your jaw and stretching your face muscles forward. This should feel like you are making a forward stretching fish face.

2. Using your fish face forward posture, make the sound of HOOOO. Think Santa Claus here. Make long HO sounds.

3. Feel how the vibrations of your voice create a buzz on your hard palate which is the boney roof of your mouth. Feel how they also fill up the whole front of your facial bones.

4. Practice your HOs several times and get used to the feeling of your mouth and face filled with vibration.

5. Now speak a sentence that has lots of long “O” sounds. For instance, “Those old boats don’t float.” Or “Hold open those doors.”

6. Notice that you are retaining some strong vibratory sensation as you speak these sentences. Listen to your recorder to hear that your voice sounds fuller and more beautiful.

That is the gest of how you learn to have a rich and good voice for speaking in groups and for public speaking. Of course it takes a little more than this to use a good voice all the time when speaking. A good speaking voice teacher can teach you how to have a great speaking voice, but I want you to know it is very possible. With a little training and effort, you can have a great voice rather than just envying others who do.

Look for a voice teacher who specializes in speaking voice training. The method I teach is The Lessac Method, developed over 70 years ago by Arthur Lessac who was the top voice trainer for actors in the US. Arthur trained me personally to teach his method. He founded an institute where you can find Lessac teachers listed at www.lessacinstitute.com.

If you would like me to help you develop a great speaking voice, contact me for a complimentary consultation to determine if I am the right voice teacher for you. Learn more about voice training or request a consultation.

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