Can I change the nasal sound of my voice?

October 29, 2004 3:53 PM

My voice has a nasal sound to it - not high-pitched-nasal, more like it sounds like I have a perpetually stuffy nose. Anything I can work on to change that, or am I stuck?
posted by ferociouskitty to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

Singing lessons, or, if you don't like singing, take a speech class at a local drama school. The sound of your voice depends a lot on your breathing, your posture, body tension, etc. You will be amazed at how coaching, a few simple tricks, and practice can alter the tone and quality of your voice.
posted by jasper411 at 4:47 PM on October 29, 2004

BTW, I think a class is best, but these are two good books that I've found useful. YMMV

Linklater's Freeing the Natural Voice

and

Patsy Rodenburg's The Actor Speaks
posted by jasper411 at 4:53 PM on October 29, 2004

You should also really go to an ENT and check to see if you've got a deviated septum, especially if you're prone to stuffy noses and don't have a great sense of smell.

It's no simple thing to fix, but having a set of sinuses that are structurally cramped up can definitely do this to your voice.
posted by LairBob at 4:56 PM on October 29, 2004

What do they call those things that you put across the bridge of your nose? They are like a flat piece of metal coating in band-aid material, and they open your nasal passages up really wide. They're marketed to people who snore, and I've seen pro athletes wear them during games. You might try that, just to see if it has an effect. They're available at drugstores. Someone will know the name.
posted by scarabic at 9:25 AM on October 30, 2004

Breathe-Right Strips, scarabic.
posted by Kwantsar at 12:15 PM on October 30, 2004

I second the singing lessons - they changed my voice considerably when I was in high school. And it's fun.
posted by advil at 12:39 PM on October 30, 2004