Do you use your voice for work? Do you want to become a better voiceover actor, singer, or public speaker? This book, written by well-known and respected voice talent Rodney Saulsberry, contains fun and challenging tongue twisters and vocal warm-ups that prepare you to read commercial, promo, narration, trailer, and animation copy with the proper energy and vocal dexterity. Learn how to deal with mouth clicks and sibilance issues, breathe correctly, control plosive words, and master microphone technique. Plus, get great tips on everyday vocal care from other professionals as well as tips on how to succeed in the voiceover industry.
Writing about sound is not an easy task. I've heard it compared to explaining visual art to the blind. However, after years of working with voiceover talent, being asked the same questions and dealing with the same issues, I was inspired to give it a try. I've written this book to give you a sound engineer's perspective on your career as a voiceover talent. In this book I've tried to provide you with basic information about audio and equipment that is taught in recording schools. Hopefully, this information will provide a foundation for you to get to know your equipment better and understand how it works. Understanding your audio equipment is critical to helping you sound your best as well as helping you effectively communicate with those trying to help you when problems occur. I've also tried to address proper studio etiquette and many of the bad practices I've seen, heard and experienced from voiceover talents over the years. My intention is not to scold or criticize, but simply to provide those of you who are new to the business with information you may not know, and also to shed light on some mistakes that many of you, who have been in the business for awhile, may not know you are making. This book is not about how to read scripts or how to be a successful voiceover artist. This book compliments the many books that have been written about those topics. You may find it helpful to sit in front of your equipment as you read through some of the sections. Follow the procedures I describe and learn what the microphone, knobs, faders and other various elements in your studio can do. Most importantly, open your ears and really listen. Listen to how you sound and learn what you can do to bring out the best in your voice. I am passionate about what I do and I know most of you are too. This is a great business. Thank you for reading my book, I hope you find it helpful and enjoyable.
Okay. You are living and working in the United States, or perhaps you are living and working in your home country using English on a daily basis for business. You have basic English language fluency. I admire you because it has been a dream of mine to be able to speak another language--any language--as well as you speak English. But darn it! Don't you get a little tired of those funny looks? Doesn't it get annoying to hear, "Could you repeat that please?" The purpose of this workbook and accompanying CDs, is to help you realize why you get those occasional reactions from your listeners, and to take the good English you already have and polish it enough to keep those questions to a bare minimum. And while we're at it, I'd like for you to have some fun!
Language and the way that people communicate has evolved over time, now you can learn how to effectively use your voice in the most effective way possible in order to get your message across. Every time we open our mouths, we have an effect on ourselves and the way others perceive us. The ability to speak clearly and confidently can make or break a presentation, an important meeting, or even a first date. Now, with the advent of Skype, YouTube, podcasting, Vine, and any number of reality talent competitions, your vocal presence has never been more necessary for success or more central to achieving your dreams. Roger Love has over 30 years of experience as one of the world's leading authorities on voice. Making use of the innovative techniques that have worked wonders with his professional clients, Love distills the best of his teaching in Set Your Voice Free, and shares exercises that will help readers bring emotion, range, and power to the way they speak. This updated edition incorporates what he's learned in the last 15 years as the Internet and talent competitions have completely changed the role your voice plays in your life. These are the new essentials for sounding authentic, persuasive, distinctive, and real in a world that demands nothing less.
A small percentage of people have clear pronunciation in oral communication. Everyone knows about its importance, but are unable to put required efforts to improve their pronunciation in their spoken language. Most people also lack the required tools and techniques to bring clarity in their speech.This book would act as one of the tools to bridge the gap to achieve exceptional oratory from basic or below average levels.
Is your voice sabotaging your first impression by being weak, croaky or nasal? Are people asking you to slow down or speak up when you talk? Do you find your voice hurts after a short speech or are your opinions being ignored? All of these factors are the results of poor speech habits which 'Speak and Be Heard' aims to remove from your vocal routine! 'Speak and Be Heard' contains a collection of 101 voice and breathing exercises suitable for beginners to accomplished Toastmasters aimed at naturally improving your voice. Written by voice actor and audiobook narrator Richard Di Britannia, his exercises aim to help you speak with confidence and curate a warm, rich, natural voice that people enjoy listening to. You will learn: Ways to empower yourself with three key concepts that create a great voice. How to identify weaknesses in your own voice and how to fix them. Exercises to rectify breathing problems and strengthen the muscles used when talking. How to make your voice deeper or higher in pitch. Routines to clearly vocalise all forty-four phonemes of the English language such as 'st', 'th', and drills on difficult to pronounce words. Unlike books dedicated to tongue twisters or recitations of long speeches which can be overwhelming, 'Speak and Be Heard' is even suitable for those with complex vocal issues. It deconstructs and rebuilds your voice through Di Britannia's bespoke system. If you struggle with a particular vocal sound, mouth-shape or just have an anxiety when talking, 'Speak and Be Heard' aims to help you overcome your weaknesses! Order the paperback and receive the Kindle edition for free!
A revised and updated edition of the detailed, down-to-earth guide to speaking your mind effectively—includes useful exercises. The best, most direct way to convey your intelligence, expertise, professionalism, and personality to other people is through talking to them. But most people have no idea what they sound like. And even if they do, they don’t think they can change it. It’s the Way You Say It is a thorough, nuts-and-bolts guide to becoming aware and taking control of how you communicate with others. Dr. Carol Fleming provides detailed advice and scores of exercises for Understanding how others hear you Dealing with specific speech problems Varying your vocal patterns to make your speech more dynamic Using grammar and vocabulary to increase your clarity and impact Reinforcing your message with nonverbal cues Conquering stage fright An entire section of the book focuses on communication issues in the workplace—interviews, presentations, voice mail, and more. In addition, Dr. Fleming puts a human face on her advice through vivid before-and-after stories of forty men and women who came to her for help. “No other skills will position you ahead of your competition as much as good speaking and presentation skills. No book approaches the depth and breadth of Dr. Carol Fleming’s It’s the Way You Say It.” —Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, keynote speaker, executive speech coach, and president of Fripp & Associates
If you are a singer, you are an athlete. And the athletic skills that make you a great vocalist come from one source: your brain.The Singing Athlete is the first book of its kind: a view on voice training through the lens of both the physical body and the nervous system. As one of the top teachers of professional Broadway performers, Andrew Byrne has developed a unique synthesis of athletics and neuroscience that will guide you to higher levels of performance. In addition to his work on Broadway, Andrew is devoted to studying the training methods used by Olympic athletes as a Master Practitioner of Z-Health functional applied neuroscience. He has taken thousands of hours of research and boiled it down into an easily digestible form that will help you unlock amazing new vocal skills. When you buy The Singing Athlete, you're not just picking up a book. You're getting a complete training system. With your purchase, you get lifetime access to The Singing Athlete Video Guide, a companion website that includes over 150 training videos. You'll learn the correct form for every drill, explore awesome bonus content, and download PDFs to track your progress. Through the fully illustrated book and the accompanying videos, you will learn to: Breathe correctly for stress reduction and optimal vocal support Exercise your tongue, jaw, and throat in ways that lower threat in your brain Use your ears and eyes to improve vocal range and stamina Heal any scars that might be holding you back Eliminate reflux, tinnitus, sinus problems, and other vocal stumbling blocks Move better, feel better, and sing better FAQs How is The Singing Athlete different from other vocal training systems? When you study voice, your instructor is always practicing neurology--either accidentally or on purpose. A lot of voice systems can tell you about the anatomy of the voice, but The Singing Athlete provides a crucial missing piece--how to train your brain. Once you understand how your nervous system is in charge of your singing, the way you practice will shift forever, and everything your teacher says will make more sense. I'm an instructor of a certain style of vocal training. Can I integrate The Singing Athlete into what I already do? That is one of the greatest strengths of this system; this material can fit in seamlessly with almost any style of training. The Singing Athlete is designed to complement what you already do, providing a new framework to expand and focus your thinking. Lisa Rochelle (NYC Singing Voice Specialist) says it this way: "The Singing Athlete negates no other system, no other technique, and no other pedagogy. It can be used to meet a singer where they are." How will I know if this training is working? The process in The Singing Athlete (known as "Assess and Reassess") will you show you precisely what kind of exercise your voice appreciates. With The Singing Athlete, there is no guesswork and you will be sure you are doing the right drills. I'm not a Broadway singer--I sing other styles (pop/country/R&B/classical, etc.) Can I get good results from this book? The Singing Athlete is independent of vocal style. You can apply these exercises to any vocal style, from heavy metal to grand opera. Whether you want to sing "Quando m'en vo" or "Call Me Maybe", Andrew has got you covered. How does The Singing Athlete Video Guide work? Learning movement is a visual process. To get the most out of the exercises, Andrew has shot a video of each drill. This will allow you to make sure you've got the form right, as well as learn details about how to use and tweak the drills. Once you've purchased the book, you can get lifetime access to the Video Guide at thesingingathlete.com. (Plus, there are some cool songs there, too.)
99 Tortuous, Tricky, Tough Tongue Twisters to keep you amused for hours. Challenge yourself and your friends to see who really is the tongue twister champion. Includes the 'World's Hardest Tongue Twister', as researched by psychologists at MIT. Not only are you guaranteed fun and laughter, but tongue twisters have been proven to improve English pronunciation skills too, for both native speakers and foreign language students.
What goes on inside a great narrator to make them great? This ground-breaking work answers this question by exploring the psychophysical aspect of voiceover. The reader is given a bird's-eye view of the professional narrator's mental, physical, and vocal ”machinery” as well as an in-depth look at the underlying currents that power it: energy, intention, emotion, connection, and flow. Ideal for all-from novice to seasoned voiceover pro-Voiceover Narration inspires the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the nuances of voiceover performance within each narration subgenre, including audiobooks, corporate films, documentaries, e-learning, and explainer videos. With wisdom, humor, and personal anecdotes, Dian Perry shares everything she has learned about narration from decades as a voice actor and teacher. Her advice is supplemented by graphics, worksheets, and a variety of sample text for practice. Voiceover Narration is a much-needed handbook that guides voice actors in creating and delivering more intuitive voiceover performances.
