Exercises to improve the voice

The voice is a fundamental tool in oral communication, and its development and improvement can make a big difference in our ability to deliver messages effectively. In this session, we will explore a series of practical exercises designed to strengthen and improve the voice. These exercises cover aspects such as breathing, resonance, articulation and intonation, and will help us to enhance our speaking skills.

Breathing exercises

Diaphragmatic breathing: Practice inhaling slowly and deeply, expanding your abdomen while keeping your shoulders relaxed. Then, exhale in a controlled and gradual manner. This exercise strengthens the diaphragm muscle and improves the ability to control the flow of air when speaking.

Sustained Breathing: Inhale deeply and then blow the air out slowly and steadily. Try to maintain a steady flow of air for as long as possible. This helps develop airflow control and strengthens the respiratory muscles.

Resonance exercises

Vocalizations with "M": Pronounce the letter "M" for a long time, feeling the vibration in the chest area. This helps to develop resonance in that area and enhance vocal projection.

Vocalizations with "NG": Pronounce the sound "NG" at length, feeling the vibration in the back of the throat. This exercise improves resonance in the nasal cavity and helps to smooth the transition between vocal registers.

Articulation exercises

Articulation of vowel sounds: Pronounce clearly and accurately the vowel sounds (A, E, I, O, U). Do this in an exaggerated manner and focus on the openness and clarity of each sound. This exercise helps to improve diction and vocal clarity.

Consonant Articulation: Pronounce series of consonants quickly and accurately, such as "pa-ta-ca" or "ma-va." This helps to strengthen articulatory muscles and improve overall articulation.

Intonation and vocal modulation exercises

Ascending and descending scales: Practice intoning ascending and descending scales as if you were singing. This helps develop vocal flexibility and improve the ability to modulate the voice in different keys.

Reading aloud with emphasis: Read texts aloud and emphasize key words and phrases. Experiment with different emphases and intonations to convey different emotions and nuances in your voice.

Vocal relaxation exercise

Massage and gentle stretches: Gently massage the jaw area, neck and facial muscles to relieve tension. Also, perform gentle stretches of the tongue, lips and neck. This helps to relax the vocal muscles and prepare the voice for optimal performance.

Reading and Diction Exercise

Reading aloud: Choose texts from different genres and read them aloud, paying attention to intonation, clarity and fluency. This helps develop the ability to adapt the voice to different types of content and to maintain an appropriate pace.

Diction exercises: Try specific exercises to improve diction, such as repeating tongue twisters quickly and clearly. This helps to strengthen articulatory muscles and improve pronunciation and word articulation.

Improvisation and expression exercise

Vocal improvisation: Practice improvising out loud, either by telling stories or making up dialogues. This will help you develop verbal fluency, the ability to react in the moment and creativity in vocal expression.

Emotional expression: Experiment with expressing different emotions through voice. Try expressing joy, sadness, anger and other emotions using different tonalities, rhythms and emphasis. This will allow you to expand your emotional and communicative range.