Improving speaking voice ... voice coach?

July 26, 2020 1:51 PM

I'm looking for resources for improving my public speaking voice. Particularly in areas like intonation and articulation, not so much speech preparation. Can you recommend media (books, CDs) or coaching (online) that would be helpful? Any other advice would be welcome as well as to the best way to approach this.
posted by roaring beast to Education (7 answers total)

The Right to Speak by Patsy Rodenberg
posted by veery at 2:07 PM on July 26, 2020 [3 favorites]

IF YOU GET THE RIGHT COACH, he or she can do wonders in a short time. A smart vocal coach will pick what can be done. (I write this because I know one who is that strategic, but you don't live near me.) So, ask around where you are.
posted by tmdonahue at 2:24 PM on July 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

If there are theatres in your area, particularly classical theatres, they may know coaches they can recommend. Also they probably need the work right now. Or I can recommend Alison Matthews.
posted by stray at 2:55 PM on July 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

Seconding actors/acting coaches.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:11 PM on July 26, 2020

This is a Voice
posted by miaow at 7:13 AM on July 27, 2020

I asked this question recently in a different venue and got two incredibly helpful recommendations: first, Kristin Linklater and specifically her book, Freeing the Natural Voice; and second, work with someone trained in Alexander Technique.
posted by obliquicity at 7:54 AM on July 27, 2020

I had a similar goal recently, and started with a speech therapist. She immediately sent me to an acting coach, because that's what you need for intonation & articulation if you don't have some underlying problem. The coach had me do all kinds of breathing, speaking, yelling, etc. exercises, plus a fair amount of general motion stuff. It was very helpful, and cheaper than speech therapy!
posted by spacewrench at 10:22 AM on July 27, 2020