Tell-tale Voice

I just started reading the book, Is Your Voice Telling On You? by Daniel R. Boone. I am already impressed. For those of you who are required to vocalize on a regular basis, this book is a tremendous gold mine. Already in the first chapter "Your Voice is Telling on You," Boone aims toward finding your natural voice. Boone acknowledges the person who has "image" (according to Boone this is: degree, physique, fashion, affluence, friends) yet has not considered how his voice sounds. Boone speaks of the confident and knowledgeable business person who through their voice send a message that lacks confidence and appears ignorant. He adds, "How we sound is largely the result of speaking the same way, day after day, over a period of years." He offers checklists and vocal exercises to improve vocal intonation and discovering your natural voice.

This book already aptly applies to music voice students. Presence (or image) is definitely a part of the grading in our class, however if you have not applied some skills to the presence don't bother showing up. =) I also like what Boone says about being confident and knowledgeable. We talked about this in class too. Don't just sing a song to be pretty. Let the knowledge and passion be reflected through your voice. Convince me you mean what you sing. You will have an in-tune listener.

Another factor in the first chapter is on our Vocal "fingerprint" (qualities in our voice that causes someone in the other room to recognize us)are:
-the number of words you say in one breath
-how fast you speak
-your rythm of speech
-your ease in breathing
-the pitch of your voice
-the loudness of your voice
-the relative relaxation or tension of your voice
-your mood state
-the clarity of your speech articulation
-the resonance of your voice

Are you pleased with how your voice sounds on a recording? Does it sound convincing? Sincere? Smooth and at ease? Does it make a good impression on others? Boone recommends developing an awareness of different voices and how they compare to your own.

Here are some descriptions Boone gives to some famous voices:

Tom Brokaw: bright, confident, good, low, masculine, melodious, resonant, throaty

George Burns: bad, burnished, gravelly horase, husky, rough, scratchy, whiskey

George Bush: clangy, confident, metallic, nasal, pingy, ringing, strident

William Buckley: burnished, cello-like, cool, deep, golden, heavy, melodious, relaxed, resonant, sophisticated, velvety

Bill Clinton: burnished, constricted, gravelly, hoarse, heavy, pinched, tight

Goldie Hawn: baby, bubbly, feminine, immature, light, pleasing, sexy, wavering

James Earl Jones: bell-like, clear, deep, golden, low, melodious, powerful, resonant

Marilyn Monroe: affected, breathy, feminine, relaxed, sultry

Meryl Streep: bright, clear, cool, good, pleasing, sharp, warm

Barbara Walters: abrasive, affected, burnished, clangy, friendly, intimidating (at times), sophisticated, whining

If you think your voice does not match you well, listen to a recording of yourself. Write some vocal descriptions down then let someone else listen and do the same. Now listen to some people you have heard and list the qualities you find there. Boone then suggests to practice these vocal qualities and find your natural voice.